P180-M shabu seized in Valenzuela

MANILA, Philippines – Two Filipino-Chinese men were caught in the act of transporting 36 kilos of shabu, with an estimated street value of P180 million, in Valenzuela City yesterday morning.

Sonny Ang, 67, and Benito Tiuseco, 47, stepped out of a warehouse in Sapang Bakaw, Barangay Lawang Bato and drove away in a Chevrolet Venture at around 8:30 a.m., said Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) information chief Glen Malapad.

The Venture (XHY-872) bore stickers bearing the logos of the Office of the President and the Philippine National Police Academy.

Armed with a search warrant, PDEA agents and police officers from the Anti-Illegal Drug Group (AIDG) blocked the suspects’ path in front of a gasoline station on Narciso street and searched the vehicle.

They recovered 36 vacuum-sealed foil packs of shabu.

The lawmen then went to the warehouse and found 12 milling machines, still wrapped in cellophane and in the crates they came in.

Malapad said PDEA suspects that the illegal drugs were smuggled in the milling machines.

At least two of the suspects’ accomplices escaped, he said.

Under surveillance

Malapad said the suspects have been under surveillance for some time and were only pinned down after investigators confirmed that the suspects were using the warehouse as a transshipment point.

A source said the suspects rented the warehouse on Saturday and the shipments were brought in the same day.

The same source said PDEA is looking into the possibility that the shabu was manufactured abroad, brought in through the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and delivered to the warehouse for distribution.

Malapad refused to comment when asked if the group was part of a drug syndicate from China operating in the country.

In 2004, six Chinese were arrested in a raid on a shabu lab in Ricon Industrial Subdivision, also in Valenzuela. Police said the laboratory could produce 15 kilos of shabu a day.

Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian called on the BOC to ensure that illegal drugs are not brought into the country using legitimate shipments of equipment.

AIDG chief Senior Superintendent Antonio Gardiola said the two suspects will be charged with illegal drug possession before the city prosecutor’s office.

Chinese nabbed with P3-M drugs

Meanwhile, a Chinese man was arrested for selling a kilo of shabu – which has a street value of P3 million – to an undercover police officer for P1.1 million in Taguig City, Pagdilao said.

Li Gongli, 37, a native of Fujian, was apprehended by members of the NCRPO’s Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG) along Mulawin street in Barangay Lower Bicutan at around 10 p.m. Monday.

Pagdilao said Li reportedly supplies drugs to several pushers operating in Metro Manila. The suspect is currently detained at the RAIDSOTG headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa. – With Non Alquitran