MANILA: Police anti-narcotics group seized some P180 million worth of shabu following the arrest of two suspected big-time illegal drugs traffickers in Valenzuela City.
Chief Insp. Roque Merdegia, head of the Legal and Investigation division of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Illegal Drugs Groups (AIDG), said the operation stemmed from a tip they received about the arrival of a shipment containing illegal drugs.
Quoting the intelligence feed they received, Merdegia said a warehouse on East Service Road in Lawang Bato in Valenzuela City was rented several days ago for the arrival of an imported milling machine.
On their way to serve the search warrant in the area at around 8:30 a.m. yesterday, they spotted a sports utility vehicle speeding out of the warehouse, prompting AIDG operatives to intercept them some 200 to 300 meters away from the warehouse.
He identified those arrested as 67-year-old Sonny Ang and 47-year old Benito Sia Tiuseco.
“It was during the search inside the car that the 36 kilograms of shabu were seized,” Merdegia told the Manila Bulletin in an interview.
AIDG operatives then swooped down on the warehouse where they were able to piece together the puzzle on how the illegal drugs were able to be smuggled inside the country.
“The illegal drugs were apparently smuggled. We are still trying to find out if they came from Taiwan or China,” said Merdegia.
A search inside the warehouse yielded 12 heavy-duty turret drilling machines.
The illegal drugs were concealed inside the machines which, in turn, were stashed inside the crates, according to Merdegia.
“There were 148 pieces of foiled pack that were already opened which we suspect to be where the 36 kilogram of shabu were kept,” said Merdegia.
Sr. Supt. Antonio Gardiola, PNP-AIDG director, said they got assistance from counterparts in Kaoshiung, Taiwan, among others, in the operation that resulted in the arrest of Ang and Benito.
“We thank our foreign counterparts who helped us in this operation. Without their valuable support, the operation would be in futility,” said Gardiola.
Aside from Chinese syndicates, Taiwanese illegal drugs syndicates have also been reported as key players in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the Philippines.
