Manila: Two Chinese nationals have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Pasay City for their involvement in a 2020 drug trafficking operation, marking a significant legal victory for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

According to Philippines News Agency, the Pasay City Regional Trial Court delivered a 24-page decision on August 25, sentencing Jason Ang and James Soriano to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of PHP2 million each. The court found them guilty of importing over 239 kilograms of shabu, valued at PHP1.62 billion.

The arrests occurred during a controlled delivery operation in October 2020 in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. Authorities intercepted the substantial drug shipment, which was concealed inside tea bags originating from Malaysia.

In a statement released over the weekend, PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez emphasized the conviction's significance, highlighting the role of patience, inter-agency coordination, and evidence-based law enforcement. Nerez noted that the suspects underestimated the vigilance of agents during the pandemic-era operation, mistakenly believing they could smuggle the contraband without detection.

The PDEA chief reiterated the agency's commitment to safeguarding the nation's borders and warned transnational syndicates that while illegal drugs may attempt to cross borders, they will not infiltrate the lives of Filipino families without resistance.