QCPD: Chinese drug suspect sold shabu at 80% discount

MANILA, Philippines - A Chinese man arrested during a drug bust in Quezon City Saturday reportedly sold a half-kilo of shabu at a discount of 80 percent, officials said yesterday.

Quezon City Police District director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano said Xiong Biao Chen sold the shabu for only P500,000 but its street value is actually P2.5 million.

Police officials believe this means Xiong holds a relatively high rank in a drug syndicate.

“He would not have been able to sell the contraband in bulk – and at a discount – if he were at the bottom of the group,” Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, QCPD deputy director for administration, told The STAR in an interview. 

Albano said Xiong is allegedly a member of the “Binondo Drug Group” operating in Metro Manila. Another alleged member of the group, arrested by the QCPD two months ago, led police officers to Xiong.

In a report to National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Leonardo Espina, Albano said Xiong had a driver’s license bearing his name. “We will be checking if that name on the license is his real identity. We will also be checking his immigration status,” Pagdilao said.