PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) agents arrested a Canadian national tagged as an international drug trafficker and accused of involvement in the foiled effort to transport 1.4 tons of shabu worth P9.6 billion in Alitagtag, Batangas last April 15 in an operation in Tagaytay City recently.
Thomas Gordon O’Quinn, alias James Toby Martin, was apprehended at the Nurture Spa and Wellness in Brgy. Maitim, Tagaytay City at around 9:00 p.m. Thursday.
The suspect yielded 14 identification cards which he was using to evade arrest by authorities.
The names found in the IDs were Robert Wagner, Steve Wilson, Ryan Brooke, Steve McDonald, Jay Macallan and James Toby Martin.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Major General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said the successful apprehension of the accused is a significant operation against international drug trafficking in the country.
The official said that the Canadian national is now undergoing questioning at the NCRPO-RID office in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.
The accused is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for conspiracy to possess, export and distribute illegal substances into the United States.
The Canadian was charged with illegal possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 and violation of Article 178 of the Revised Penal Code or using fictitious name and concealing true name before the Department of Justice on Friday.
The charges were filed after the suspect yielded multiple types of narcotics, including suspected shabu, sophisticated electronic devices and numerous identification documents under various aliases, indicating his efforts to elude detection, said Nartatez.
The official said that the arrest is directly connected to the recent seizure of 1.4 tons of illicit drugs in Batangas, which highlighted O’Quinn’s significant role in the drug smuggling and extensive criminal networks.
The Canadian was implicated in the Alitagtag drug haul by Amazon Michael Zarate, the driver of the van that yielded the multi-billion peso worth of shabu in Alitagtag, Batangas.