P1-M shabu seized, 16 nabbed in Bulacan raid

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – At least P1 million worth of suspected shabu was seized and 16 people were arrested in a raid conducted by the Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Task Force and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on five houses in Barangay Bayugo, Meycauayan, Bulacan on Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, Region 3 police director, said the suspects were caught engaging in pot sessions and trading illegal drugs, and plastic sachets containing shabu and drug paraphernalia were seized from them.

PDEA Region 3 director Jeoffrey Tacio said the raid was conducted after several weeks of surveillance following an intelligence report that the five houses were being used as drug dens and that several people had been coming in and out of these residences.

Tacio said the raiding team was armed with search warrants issued by Judge Richard Paradeza of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 72.

The arrested suspects are now in police custody while appropriate charges are being readied against them, Tacio said.