P1.87 billion shabu seized at MICP

MANILA, Philippines — Anti-narcotics agents intercepted yesterday a shipment containing at least 275 kilos of shabu valued at P1.87 billion at the Manila International Container Port.

Col. Jean Fajardo, who heads the Philippine National Police public information office, said the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) received information that a large shipment of drugs from Mexico would be arriving in Manila.

The drugs were intercepted through the PNP’s coordination with the Bureau of Customs and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Fajardo said.

Based on initial inventory, police said the shipment contained shabu.

Fajardo said there could be more illegal substances as the inventory has yet to be finished.

“Napakaraming boxes nito so ongoing ang inventory,” she said.

In Quezon City, police arrested a suspected drug pusher who reportedly yielded a kilo of shabu amounting to P6.8 million on Wednesday night.

Rommel Manalo, 48, was apprehended in Barangay Balingasa at around 10 p.m., DEG director Col. Dionisio Bartolome Jr. said.

Manalo allegedly negotiated a deal with a police officer who posed as a buyer of the illegal drug in his possession.

The suspect is being held on charges of drug trafficking.

In Pasig, around five grams of shabu worth P34,000 were confiscated yesterday from a drug suspect identified only as Rodel.

City police chief Col. Celerino Sacro said the suspect was apprehended during a sting in Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

The suspect has been under surveillance for his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.