P30-M shabu seized; 2 nabbed in QC drug sting

MANILA, Philippines - Police confiscated some P30 million worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation that also resulted in the arrest of two suspects in Quezon City Saturday night. 

Harold Wilford Padilla, 34, was nabbed for alleged drug peddling. His companion, Arnel Ignacio, 49, was apprehended for alleged possession of illegal drugs, according to Senior Inspector Roberto Razon, head of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD)’s anti-drug unit.

Razon’s team seized five kilos of high-grade shabu during the sting along Banawe street in Barangay Sto. Domingo at past 6 p.m.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent Richard Albano estimated the market value of the contraband at around P6 million per kilo or roughly P30 million.

“It was a month of case build-up. An informant managed to arrange a deal between Padilla and our poseur buyer,” Razon said in an interview.

QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said Padilla was selling shabu at a cheaper price.

According to Pagdilao, the suspect offered a kilo of shabu for only P3 million.

He said the undercover agent agreed to give a down payment of P1.5 million, with the balance to be paid during the next transaction.

Albano said Padilla was in a Nissan Terrano (CMV-593) when policemen pounced on him.

The suspect yielded a caliber .40 revolver aside from the contraband. 

Following Padilla’s arrest, policemen proceeded to a Mazda Familia sedan (UTN-234) parked nearby that was carrying Ignacio.

Four more kilos of shabu were recovered from Ignacio, police said.

Police believed that Ignacio was the source of the illegal drugs.

Albano said drug charges were being readied against the suspects. –With Rey Galupo