P12-million shabu seized in Binondo drug bust

MANILA, Philippines – A Chinese national and two Filipinos who yielded 2.3 kilos of shabu worth P12 million were arrested by operatives of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) during a buy-bust operation in Binondo, Manila Wednesday.

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said Chinese national John Wu, alias Andy; Deron Teddy Mamao, alias Ted, 34; and Mangundao Amir Hussin Maundas, 28, were undergoing tactical interrogation to determine the source of their shabu and the drug syndicate to which they belong.

Rosales presented the suspects, including the seized evidence and P200,000 buy-bust money, before the media yesterday at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Wu and his companions chose to remain silent on the charges against them.

Rosales directed Superintendent Leo Francisco, chief of the NCRPO’s Regional Police Intelligence and Operations Unit (RPIOU), to place Wu under surveillance following reports of his alleged drug-peddling activities.

“We placed Wu under surveillance for two weeks. We monitored him moving around Metro Manila (in) different types of vehicles,” said Francisco.

According to Francisco, they set up a test buy for 100 grams of shabu for P200,000 and Wu showed up at the Plaza Lorenzo in Binondo, Manila.

When their vehicles were side by side in the middle of the street, one of Wu’s companions threw inside their car a plastic container with the ordered shabu, the RPIOU chief said, adding that they, too, handed over to the suspects a plastic bag containing the P200,000 marked money.

At this juncture, the police officers identified themselves as policemen and intercepted the suspects two vehicles — a black Toyota Altis (XEX-166) and a silver gray Mitsubishi Outlander (ZTD-339).

When searched, the Mitsubishi Outlander yielded a black bag containing additional shabu placed in small plastic bags.

The NCRPO, Rosales said, is in the process of identifying drug-prone areas in the metropolis. He ordered the filing of drug use and possession charges against the suspects who are currently detained at the RPIOU detention cell in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.