Immigration bureau: Businessman facing drug case over P6.4-B shabu shipment tried to leave country

Richard Chen, owner of Hongfei Logistics Inc., attends a Senate hearing on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that slipped through the country via Customs express lanes in May. /Eagle News Service/

(Eagle News) — One of the personalities facing criminal charges over the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that slipped through the country via Customs express lanes in May tried to leave the Philippines on Thursday.

Immigration spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang said Chen Ju Long, alias Richard Tan or Richard Chen was, however, denied departure by the Bureau of Immigration as he tried to board China Eastern Air flight # 5046  at the Clark International Airport.

She said Chen, the owner of Hongfei Logistics Inc., whose warehouse in Valenzuela was where authorities found the 602.2 kilograms of shabu on May 26, was supposed to go to Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

“(He was) advised to secure an allow departure order from the Department of Justice,” Mangrobang said.

Chen is facing a drug importation case before the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court over the shipment, and as such is on the BI’s immigration lookout order.

Apart from Chen, also charged for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act are businessman Kenneth Dong and Customs fixer Mark Taguba.