16 more kilos of shabu confiscated in Zambales

Anti-narcotics agents have confiscated 16 more kilos of shabu in Masinloc, Zambales in follow-up operations after the seizure of 334 kilos of the contraband in that province this week.

Director Efren Fernandez, chief of the Anti-Narcotics Group, said one of the three Chinese nationals arrested for the huge shabu haul cooperated with them, leading to the additional shabu seizure.

The seizure brought to 350 kilos the total volume of shabu seized out of the illegal drugs smuggled into the country off La Union from mainland China this week.

Fernandez said anti-narcotics agents had intercepted the drug shipment in La Union after it was unloaded from a vessel in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

But the three Chinese nationals, aboard three vehicles already loaded with shabu, noticed the advancing lawmen and sped toward Manila.

The chase ended in a police roadblock in Masinloc, Zambales. One of the suspects, aboard a Toyota Revo, tried to run away but was cornered after he sprained his ankle.

Fernandez said they are investigating whether the Zambales shipment was connected with the seizure of billions of pesos worth of shabu in Quezon early last month.

A municipal mayor, Ronnie Mitra of Panukulan town, his two aides and a Chinese national were apprehended while transporting the shabu aboard a government-issued ambulance and a private vehicle in Quezon.