PDEA seizes shabu chemicals at port

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized precursors in the manufacture of shabu from a 10-foot container van bound for Cebu City during operations at the Port Area in Manila yesterday.

PDEA officials said the container van had several boxes of regulated chemicals. It was seized by the anti-narcotics agents at noon at Pier 18 on Road 10 of the North Harbor in Manila.

PDEA chief Undersecretary Anselmo Avenido Jr. said anti-drug operatives arrested two individuals manning the illegal cargo. They were identified as Delson de la Cruz and Alberto Malinao, driver and helper of the van, respectively.

Dela Cruz told probers that they were just ordered to pick up the container van in Sta. Cruz and bring it to Port Area before loading it to one of the ships.

According to Avenido, their original plan was to tail the illegal cargo from Manila all the way to its recipient in Cebu City.

But alert port and Customs personnel were able to detect the presence of illegal chemicals inside the van.

In coordination with the Customs officials, Avenido said his men arrested the two suspects.

Avenido said the illegal chemicals were kept in several boxes of China-made plastic bowls to prevent lawmen and Customs officials from finding them.

The PDEA chief said his investigators are still gathering enough documentary evidence to trace the origin of the shipment and for the filing of appropriate charges.