In a decisive move against corruption, the National Bureau of Investigation-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCD), led by director Jaime B. Santiago, arrested two individuals in Guagua, Pampanga, for robbery through extortion.
The suspects, identified as Wyeth Navalles y Lara and Leila Navalles y Lara, were taken into custody following a complaint that triggered the operation.
According to the report, the complainant had hired Wyeth, a licensed Customs Broker, to oversee the importation of goods into the country. They agreed on a total service fee of P500,000.00. After paying Php 220,938.00 in legitimate customs duties and taxes, the complainant was informed by Wyeth that the shipment was on hold due to alleged misdeclaration. She then demanded an additional P1.9 million in so-called “grease money,” claiming it was necessary to pay off various divisions of the Bureau of Customs, as well as officials from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Unwilling to be extorted, the complainant turned to the authorities. A joint entrapment operation was swiftly coordinated by the NBI-OTCD and Bureau of Customs-CIIS, MICP.
On June 3, 2025, the operation unfolded at a coffee shop in Ermita, Manila, where the complainant was instructed to deliver the money. Wyeth appeared at the meeting with her sister, Leila. Once Wyeth accepted the marked cash and handed over an acknowledgment receipt, operatives moved in. The sisters were arrested on the spot.
Both suspects were brought to the NBI-OTCD headquarters for processing. Wyeth underwent a forensic examination under ultraviolet light, which revealed traces of fluorescent powder from the entrapment money—clear evidence of her involvement.
The case has since been submitted for inquest before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Manila, charging both individuals under the Revised Penal Code for robbery with violence or intimidation through extortion.
Director Santiago praised the swift and coordinated efforts of the NBI-OTCD and partner agencies. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating corruption and called for continued collaboration among law enforcement agencies to protect the public from abuse and exploitation.