The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has formally charged Chinese-American Allan Hoo Soo on Tuesday before Angeles City Assistant Prosecutor Marcelino Pineda.
Soo was charged with violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), a non-bailable offense. If found guilty, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Soo, who is from New York City, US, disembarked at the Clark International Airport on Sunday night on board the Emirates Airlines Flight 338 from the Dubai. He was apprehended at the Clark airport’s Customs passenger processing area after his hand carried luggage was found unusually heavy.
X-ray images revealed 2.3 kilograms of cocaine valued about P16 million hidden in a secret compartment in his luggage.
Members of the Clark Anti-Drug Task Force revealed Soo was nabbed in an interdiction operations with the cooperation of the US Homeland Security. They said Soo was already under surveillance as soon as he departed from the US to Dubai, and later to Clark.
Aside from PDEA, the CRK anti-drug task force is composed of the Bureau of Customs, the CRK security and operations group, the PNP-Aviation Security Group and the Bureau of Immigration.
The apprehension of Soo was lauded by newly-appointed CIAC President Alexander Cauguiran who ordered stricter security measures at the CRK as soon as he assumed office last week.
According to the PDEA, Soo’s case may be raffled within the week, adding that Soo will be transferred to the custody of the Philippine National Police at Camp Olivas in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The arrest of Soo came in the wake of the intense war against illegal drugs by President Rodrigo Duterte.