Indian national nabbed for bribing PDEA agents

SEIZED ILLEGAL DRUGS. Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency seized from Rajiv Gidwani and Jeremiah Alero Carillo some PHP1,072,000 worth of illegal drugs during a buy-bust operation on May 25. (Photo courtesy of PDEA/PNA)

MANILA — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino on Monday lauded the agency’s operatives for refusing the bribe in exchange for the immediate release of an Indian national and his cohort, who were nabbed during an entrapment operation in Muntinlupa City.

Aquino said that Indian businessman Nari Kishinchand, 63, was arrested by PDEA-Special Enforcement Service (SES) operatives after he tried to bribe them with PHP1 million – in exchange for the immediate release of his son Rajiv Gidwani of Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City.

“I would like to commend our agents for their exemplary behavior for declining the bribe. This demonstrates that moral integrity still ranks high among our ranks,” Aquino said.

Among the items seized from Gidwani and Jeremiah Alero Carillo during a buy-bust operation on May 25 were tablets and liquid form of ecstasy, kush, a cannabis variety, and hashish, a cannabis resin.

“The total estimated market value of seized illegal drugs during the operations is PHP1,072,000,” Aquino said.

The suspects, now under the custody of PDEA-SES, are facing violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Kishinchand will be charged for violation of Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code or corruption of public officer.