Woman yields P11M shabu
Shabu worth at least P11 million was confiscated from a woman at a hotel in uptown Cebu City last Saturday.
The police are now looking into a scenario that the woman, Dorotea Moyes, 61, was used as a mule for an international drug syndicate.
Moyes was arrested despite having been the one who notified the hotel’s security personnel of the bag she was asked to bring to Japan.
P/Insp. Greg Ybiernas, chief of the Fuente Police, said Moyes, a native of Quezon Province, arrived in Cebu last Wednesday from Australia where she worked as a nurse assistant.
She came to Cebu supposedly to meet a certain Andrew Wood for the first time.
Wood is reportedly her boyfriend whom she met online just several months ago. However, Wood reportedly cancelled their meeting here and told her that they would meet in Osaka, Japan instead.
Wood also asked Moyes to meet his staff at a branch of a food chain in General Maxilom Avenue so she could bring with her to Osaka the bag owned by Wood’s boss who reportedly lives in Japan.
Moyes did meet with Wood’s staff last Saturday morning and got from them a grey backpack.
While in the taxi heading back to the hotel, Moyes reportedly got suspicious of a bulky black plastic that was inside the bag together with a laptop.
When she arrived at the hotel, Moyes sought the help of a security guard.
“Niingun ra siya nga, ‘I need help. Help me’, sa mga security didto,” Ybiernas said.
The hotel’s security accommodated Moyes’ request and had the bag sniffed by their bomb sniffing dogs.
When they took the package from the bag, however, they found that it did not contain a bomb but shabu.
The hotel management then called the police who also alerted the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – 7.
FOLLOW-UP
"Tanan niyang lihok kay with instruction ni Andrew," Ybiernas said.
Authorities tried to establish communication with Wood through Moyes but the latter reportedly may have suspected that the plan may have already been comprised.
“Pag-una kay nitawag pa siya ni Moyes niya iya dayung gipangita ang bag. Iyang gisigurado nga naa niya ang bag. Katong amo siya giingnan nga ipakuha ang bag sa front desk, among gi-sendan sa picture, kay wala na nitawag og balik,” Ybiernas said.
Wood also reportedly deleted the important messages he sent to Moyes via a messenger application.
Ybiernas said they will seek the help of the police’s Anti-Cyber Crime Unit for possible retrieval of the messages.
The police will also get copies of the footage from the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at the food chain where Moyes met Wood’s staff, all of whom are foreigners.
INNOCENT?
Moyes was arrested shortly before her scheduled flight to Japan noon last Saturday. She vehemently denied being part of any criminal syndicate.
“Sana po tulungan nila ako na ma-clear ang pangalan ko kasi alam kong I am innocent. Wala po akong kasalanan,” she said.
Ybiernas explained that even if Moyes alerted authorities of the suspicious bag content, it does not change the fact that she was in possession of the illegal substance at that time, thus, her arrest.
“Based on Republic Act 9165 kay naa niya ang possession sa illegal drugs. Bisan pa man og gipahibawo niya ang gwardiya, still liable siya. Ang korte na ang bahala,” Ybiernas said.
Granting Moyes is a victim, Ybiernas said her experience should serve as a lesson to anyone meeting partners online.
“Advise sa public nga leksiyon na ni sa online dating, ilabi na nga through profile lang… ang dagway dili ipakita… madani lang kay magtuo nga mahaw-as sila sa ilang kahimtang… lesson na ni siya.” Ybiernas said.