P60-M shabu hidden in toys seized in Pasay

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG)   recently  intercepted around 11.5 kilos of shabu, with an estimated street value of P60 million, hidden in parcels of toys at the cargo office of a multinational courier service in Pasay City.

At least 12 parcels of shabu in two packages containing a special film and soap were sent by Tyler Wilson with address at 4313 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, California. 

The packages were misdeclared as toys containing Christmas wooden blocks.

The illegal drugs were discovered after an examiner of the Bureau of Customs noticed white crystalline substance on the X-ray scan.

A drug-sniffing dog of the PDEA was able to detect the package containing shabu. 

The first package, which contained six kilos of shabu worth P30 million, was intercepted by the PDEA on Nov. 29. It was consigned to Rogelio Almodiel, with address at 11 North Stamford Residence, Tower 2, Upper Mckinley Road corner Florence Way Road in Taguig.

Another package, which was misdeclared as children’s toys and puzzles, contained 5.5 kilos of shabu worth P27.5 million. It was addressed to Hasmine Erquiza of 32 Vicente España Subdivision, Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City.

PDEA chief Aaron Aquino said drug traffickers are taking advantage of the holiday rush to ship illegal drugs into the country.

Aquino said drug rings are using couriers to transport illegal drugs amid the influx of packages for the Christmas season.

He said he would hold a dialogue with courier companies to curb the illegal drug trade using their services. 

PDEA National Capital Region director Ismael Fajardo said they got word from their counterparts with the US Drug Enforcement Administration that the supplier could have been part of the Mexico-Sinoloan drug cartel.

5 drug suspects fall

On Saturday, PDEA agents seized at least P2.9 million worth of shabu from two suspects during a sting at a mall in Pasay.

Randy Gatdula, 38, and Marita Macatannga, 55, allegedly yielded nearly 600 grams of shabu.

The PDEA described Gatdula and Macatannga as high-value drug suspects.

The suspects served as couriers for street level pushers in Metro Manila, according to Fajardo.

“They facilitate the delivery of shabu through cell phones,” he told reporters.

The suspects admitted that they were ordered to deliver the drugs in exchange for P4,000.

In Quezon City, three drug suspects were arrested for alleged possession of P100,000 worth of shabu early yesterday morning. 

They were Edfer Ducay, 31; Alfredo Ayong, 21, and Ana Marie Escorial, 19.

They were nabbed at Room 33 of Maria’s Place Apartelle along New York street in Barangay E. Rodriguez Sr. at around 3:15 a.m. 

Police said they were able to buy P1,000 worth of shabu from the suspects. 

The suspects allegedly yielded five plastic sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and the marked money.

The Quezon City police has arrested a total of 40 suspects since the police resumed anti-drug operations last November. – With Ghio Ong