MANILA — Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday, October 16, publicly identified former Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) member Edrieza Hadji Nasser Rimbang as the alleged financier behind a foiled attempt to smuggle 521 kilograms of suspected shabu from Laos to the Philippines.
Remulla presented the findings at a briefing held at the Presidential Communications Office in Malacañang, where a Philippine National Police link diagram — aired by state broadcaster RTVM — named Rimbang, tagged with the alias "Sultan," among persons linked to the operation.
PNP Diagram Links Rimbang to Charter Jet and Alleged Consignee
According to the PNP link diagram presented during the briefing, Rimbang is connected to the shipment alongside his wife, relatives, an alleged consignee, the individuals who arranged the charter flight, and a police officer. The diagram lists Rimbang's address as 314 Bautista St., Macalatas Bldg., Quiapo, Manila — the same address given for the alleged consignee, identified as Abdulahkarim K. Macalatas.
The diagram is an investigative chart. Being named in it is not a finding of guilt, and no formal charges had been announced against Rimbang as of press time. Kuryente News said it sought comment from Rimbang but had not received a response.
521 Kilograms Seized at Luang Prabang Airport on October 1
Lao police intercepted the drugs at Luang Prabang International Airport on October 1, seizing 521 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine packed in 500 packages. The drugs were found in luggage intended for loading onto a 1986 Bombardier Learjet 55B bearing US registration N73GP.
Thirteen people were detained in connection with the seizure, including members of the aircraft crew and airport and ground-handling staff, according to reports from the briefing.
Malaysian police said the jet had flown empty from Subang, Malaysia, to Luang Prabang, where the drugs were to be loaded before the aircraft proceeded to Manila. The charter was booked on September 23 for US$49,500 and declared its cargo as vape products. Philippine authorities have placed the total street value of the seized drugs at ₱3.54 billion.
A Filipino from Marawi City identified in the PNP diagram as Fahad Mulok Dibarosan was arrested in Laos and remains detained there.
PDEA Had Earlier Identified a Mindanao Politician Without Naming Him
On Thursday, October 15, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut said the agency had identified the financier as a Mindanao-based politician, without naming him publicly at the time. Calulut said the politician had paid the US$49,500 charter fee — equivalent to approximately ₱3.1 million — and belongs to a political party opposed to the Marcos administration.
The PDEA also said the politician had been in contact with the Sam Gor syndicate, described as a major regional producer and distributor of methamphetamine.
PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said on Friday that the alleged financier had previously been involved in illegal drug cases. Remulla added at the briefing that the National Bureau of Investigation is currently examining 11 persons and entities of interest in the case.
Rimbang's Political Background
Rimbang was appointed to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2019, where he served as a member of the interim Bangsamoro Parliament. He was later listed as a Partido Demokratiko Pilipino candidate for the Lanao del Sur 1st parliamentary district and reportedly lost in the region's first parliamentary elections held on September 14, 2026.
Charges Expected in Coming Days
The PDEA said it is actively building cases against those involved and expects to file charges in the coming days, according to Remulla's briefing at Malacañang.
By the Numbers
- 521 kg — weight of crystal methamphetamine seized at Luang Prabang International Airport
- 500 packages — how the drugs were packed
- 13 people — detained in Laos, including aircraft crew and airport staff
- US$49,500 (≈ ₱3.1 million) — charter fee allegedly paid by the financier, booked September 23
- ₱3.54 billion — estimated street value placed on the drugs by Philippine authorities
- 11 persons and entities — currently under NBI examination
- October 1 — date of seizure at Luang Prabang International Airport
Why This Matters
The case marks one of the largest single shabu interdictions linked to a Philippine political figure, with authorities placing the shipment's value at ₱3.54 billion. The alleged involvement of a former member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and the jet's declared destination of Manila raises significant questions about transnational drug networks with ties to Philippine political institutions. The PDEA's disclosure of contact between the alleged financier and the Sam Gor syndicate signals that Philippine authorities are pursuing connections to one of Asia's most powerful drug organizations.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of RTVM/Presidential Communications Office