MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested yesterday four Chinese who yielded at least 26 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with an estimated street value of more than P100 million during a drug bust in Makati City.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima identified the suspects as Wu Shichuang, alias Sonny Cabrera Ng, 50; Shengxi Li, 30; Yang Chi Ti, 26, and Sonny Co, 27.
“We have broken the backbone of the drug syndicate operating in Makati City and nearby cities. The shabu yield would greatly disturb the supply of illegal drugs in the said areas,” Purisima said in an interview.
Aside from the shabu, Purisima said the Regional Police Intelligence and Operating Unit (RPIOU) personnel seized a Toyota Altis (XRN-692) and a Nissan X-Trail (XBB-266) the suspects used.
RPIOU chief Superintendent Richard de la Rosa said they conducted surveillance operations on the suspects for almost three weeks before the sting.
A police officer posing as a buyer set up the sale of two kilos of shabu for P2 million, De la Rosa said.
The suspects were arrested one after the other after Wu handed over the shabu to an undercover police officer in exchange for P2 million “boodle money” at the parking lot of a convenience store located along Malugay street at about 2:30 p.m. The suspects did not resist arrest.
Purisima said the suspects are undergoing tactical interrogation at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. “We are interested in knowing the source of their illegal drugs, possibly the drug syndicate they belong and their contacts in the local market,” he said.