Buy-bust yields 30 kilos of shabu

Police seized 30 kilos of shabu worth P60 million from three Chinese nationals who were caught in a buy-bust operation at the Eastwood parking lot in Libis, Quezon City last Thursday.

Suspects Zhang Shang Ming, 38, a transient of Sampaloc, Manila; Alex Tan Lim, 40, a transient of Samson Road, Caloocan City; and Robert Ong Cruz, 32, a transient of Mabini street, Manila — all natives of Fookien China — were presented yesterday to members of the media by Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco.

Velasco commended agents of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force, the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID), led by Senior Superintendent Miguel Laurel, and the Central Police District (CPD), headed by Chief Superintendent Napoleon Castro, for pushing the directive of President Arroyo for an all-out offensive against illegal drugs.

"We will continue our relentless and suffocating drive against these drug traffickers, especially foreign nationals that are operating in the country," Velasco said.

Laurel said the suspects had been under surveillance for almost a month under "Coplan Green Grass."

The three Chinese nationals were arrested in a buy-bust operation headed by SPO2 Braldo Lectura, who had agreed to meet Zhang at the Eastwood parking lot at around 11 a.m. last July 31.

As a result of the transaction, police were able to apprehend Zhang and confiscate 15 packs of shabu weighing 30 kilos. They also recovered two Toyota Altis sedans with plate numbers XHS-712 and XGB-605.

The two other suspects surrendered peacefully.

He said the painstaking, one-month surveillance conducted by the operatives under Green Grass, which targets the drug-trafficking activities of the foreigners, paid off with the successful drug sting operation.

"With President Arroyo leading the successful campaign against illegal drugs, we expect the supply of shabu to drastically be reduced in Metro Manila and nearby areas," Velasco said.

Meanwhile, street peddlers were not spared from the Metro-wide saturation drive against drugs.

Castro reported the arrest of five drug suspects in his area of jurisdiction where each were busted for the possession of packets of shabu.

The suspected arrested were identified as Reynaldo Temporas, 38, Melchor Abagat, 38, Jimmy Mendoza, 36, Fernando Canseco, 32, and Christopher Carpena, 43. The suspects were arrested Thursday in separate busts around Quezon City.