SEIZED. Photo shows part of the 40 kilograms of shabu worth P272 million seized from a “high-value target” (in striped long-sleeved shirt) in Binangonan, Rizal on Wednesday by combined agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG). Photo courtesy of PDEA
PDEA seizes ₱272-M shabu in Rizal sting
AN estimated P272 million worth of shabu were confiscated by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in an anti-narcotics operation in Binangonan, Rizal just before midnight Wednesday, PDEA chair Director General Isagani R. Nerez announced yesterday.
The official said that around 40 kilograms of the “poor man’s cocaine” were recovered during the buy-bust operation at Rizal Cement Village in Bgy. Pantok in Binangonan municipality, which targeted a “high-value target” identified as alias “Ronald.”
Nerez said that undercover officers from the PDEA Intelligence Service, National Capital Region Office and Regional Office 4-A conducted the operation, with the support of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group.
He said that recovered during the operation were 40 foil packs colored black gold each containing a kilo of the prohibited drugs, which have been sent to the PDEA Laboratory Service, for further examination and safekeeping.
The arrested suspect is now being held at the PDEA national headquarters in Quezon City facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
As of press time, follow-up operations are underway to identify and arrest the main source of the illegal drugs confiscated from the suspect, said the PDEA chief.
He also commended the concerned PDEA and PNP-DEG operatives involved in the “high-impact operation.”
“Operation of this magnitude dealt a major blow to the supply chain of illegal drugs in the streets. There are more to come,” Nerez said.
It was the second major accomplishment of the PDEA this month, coming in the heels of the confiscation of P340 million worth of shabu during an anti-narcotics operation in Muntinlupa City on Friday last week.
On that day, members of the PDEA Intelligence Service, in coordination with the PDEA-NCR, the PNP-DEG and the Southern Police District conducted a sting in a subdivision in Bgy. Putatan, which led to the recovery of around 50 kilos of shabu valued at P340 million.
The prohibited substance were found in 25 golden aluminum packs, 20 vacuum-sealed orange packs with “Cote d ‘Ivoire” markings and a red reusable bag containing five vacuum-sealed orange packs with the label “Cote d’ Ivoire.”
