(UPDATE) 4 arrested as PDEA, police seize total of P1.1 billion worth of shabu

March 20, 2019

Around P1.13 billion worth of 166 kilos of shabu were confiscated by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ( PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Muntinlupa City on Tuesday resulting in the arrest of three Chinese suspects and one Fiipino in a separate buy- bust operation.

In a press briefing, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said these operations were a product of their three-month surveillance after receiving a tip from an informant.

The first operation was conducted around 5pm in a parking lot of a mall located at Muntinlupa were authorities seized 43.5 kilos of shabu estimated at P295 million.

Arrested were Go Kei Kei, 40, Chua Kian Kok, 43, and Emmanuel Pascual, 79. 

Aquino said the second operation transpired around 6:30 pm inside Ayala Alabang Village where they recovered around 123 kilos of shabu worth P836 million.

This time, enforcement agent were able to arrest Li Zhao Yang, 19.

“Total seizure for these two operation is 166 kilos worth of P1.13 billion,” Aquino said presenting the confiscated shabu.

The PDEA chief said the illegal drugs were hidden inside tea bags and some are being placed inside a can of biscuit.

He said this is also the same package seized by other nations in their operations.

“These drugs came from the Golden Triangle drug syndicates. So this packaging (is) the same packaging that were seized by other nations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, (and) Myanmar,” said Aquino.

“This is ready for delivery, maybe tonight or early morning tomorrow. It’s good that we were able to detect the movement of the group,” he added.

He said they are investigating if there is any links connecting this group to the P1.9 billion worth of shabu PDEA seized in Tanza and Dasmarinas, Cavite last month.

“Nobody wants to talk from this group. Actually I think they are from mainland China so we will check further and investigate further on what group they were involved,” Aquino added.

In a radio interview Wednesday, Aquino said the house where the second operation was conducted is a storage warehouse.

“So this house was rented. They are not even living there. If you noticed, there are no things inside this house. They are only using it as storage of illegal drugs,” he said.

He said the owner of the house is a certain Josephine Ong and they are coordinating with the village manager to contact her.

“We are thinking if we will include her in the filing of the case. We want to talk to her,” said Aquino.

He said the drug syndicate involved in are bringing illegal drugs inside the country through coastlines.

“The Golden Triangle is learning (new ways) since our airport and seaports become stricter, so they are bringing this through coastline. I think this came from either Malaysia or Indonesia. They are using the Sulu Sea,” said Aquino.

The PDEA chief said they have made seizures in parts of Mindanao with the same packaging.

Aquino said the agency is now more focused on high-end subdivisions, clubs, hotels, and warehouses. They are also conducting training and advocacies program for all the establishment owners.  Ella Dionisio/DMS