Narcs seize over P400M shabu, 2 suspects nabbed
AGENTS of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) on Monday evening launched a joint operation in Pasay City, which resulted in the arrest of two top drug targets and the seizure of nearly 59 kilograms of shabu valued at over P400 million, a report to PNP chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said Tuesday.
PNP-DEG Director Brigadier Gen. Narciso D. Domingo said the arrested suspects, a 37-year-old male, resident of Sta. Mesa, Manila, and another male, 27, who is also from Sta. Mesa.
The official said that the two were arrested during a drug interdiction operation at the PAIRPAGGS Center at the NAIA Complex in Pasay City around 6:30 p.m. Monday.
The duo was placed under arrest after they conspired to claim an inbound parcel which was found to be containing 58,930 grams of the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” worth P400,724,000.
The parcel had five boxes, each with four cylindrical plastic containers with the prohibited drugs. Domingo said that the parcel with an airway bill was shipped by one “Diallo Sandally” of Sofinia Commune de Ratoma, Conakry, Guinea. The parcel was consigned to one recipient, of Scout Limbaga Street, Barangay Sacred Heart, in Quezon City.
When examined, one of the boxes contained 10,226 grams of shabu valued at P69,536,800, while the 2nd box contained P13,332 grams of the same substance worth P90,657,600.
The 3rd contained 13,354 grams of shabu valued at P90,807,200, while the 4th contained 10,292 grams of the same drug worth P69,807,000.
The 5th box was found to contain more or less 11,726 grams of shabu valued at P79,736,800.
Overall, the recovered drugs weighed 58,930 grams and had a market value of P400.7 million.
The arrested suspects and the drug contraband were immediately placed under the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) headed by Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo.
Charges for illegal importation and illegal possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are to be filed against the two arrested suspects.
Follow-up operations and investigation are also underway to identify and arrest the other cohorts of the duo, the official said.
