A Chinese businessman who operates a forwarding company in the country categorically denied any link to the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu found in two warehouses in Valenzuela City recently, saying he was a victim of circumstances because his firm was only leased to transport shipments and other goods.
Junlung Chen, owner of Hong Fei forwarding company, said he even coordinated with the Chinese embassy and the Bureau of Customs upon learning that the shipment contained illegal drugs.
The BoC, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency filed charges of illegal drugs against the owner of the warehouse identified as Delfin Dee, Milagos Pilon, Milbert Pilon and Chen.
But Chen insisted that he has no knowledge that illegal drugs were inserted in a cylinder on the printing machine which came from China that his company delivered in a warehouse in Valenzuela City.
He said that as forwarding company, his firm did its job as well as the broker who only processed the payment of duties and taxes of the shipment at the BoC in order to facilitate the release of the shipment and eventually deliver the goods at a warehouse in Valenzuela City.
Chen claimed that he learned from Chinese authorities that the shipment contains illegal drugs upon the confession of an arrested drug personalities in China.
The customs discovered the drugs in two warehouses located in Aster Street, Paso de Blas and in F. Bautista Street in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela.
Neil Estrella, BoC Intelligence and Investigation Service director, said a certain Fidel Anoche Dee and his sister received the illegal shipment.
The suspects and the illegal drugs are now in the custody of PDEA and NBI.
