P74.8 million shabu hidden in chairs, grill seized

MANILA, Philippines — At least 11.5 kilos of shabu, with an estimated street value of P74.8 million hidden in three packages, which arrived at the Clark Freeport Zone on Friday, were seized on Monday. 

The parcels came from California and were misdeclared as chairs and cooking equipment and consigned to three persons, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said yesterday.  

“After examination indicated the presence of drugs, personnel of the BOC’s  Enforcement and Security Service and Anti-Drugs Task Force and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency... conducted controlled delivery operations,” Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said. 

One of the packages, which was declared to contain a chair, was consigned to a certain Arthur Santiago of Barangay San Martin de Porres in Parañaque City. A certain Dolores Lintag who received the parcel was arrested. 

Also arrested was Melchor Corocoto who received the second package misdeclared as a barbecue grill and consigned to Marilou Mendez also of Barangay San Martin de Porres. 

William dela Piza and Daniel Andrada, who received the package declared as bar stools and consigned to a certain Mark Fojas, were arrested in Bacoor, Cavite.

The BOC will issue a warrant of seizure and detention of the parcels for violation of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

3 shot dead

Meanwhile, three drug suspects were killed in alleged shootouts with police officers in anti-drug operations in Bulacan and Cavite in the past two days.

An alias Roel allegedly fired at anti-narcotics agents in Barangay Sto. Cristo, Pulilan at around 10:55 p.m. on Monday.

A caliber .38 revolver, 11 sachets of shabu and a tricycle  were recovered from the fatality, police said.

Two men known only by their aliases of Lorick and Romiel allegedly pulled out their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in Barangay Niog 3, Bacoor before dawn yesterday.  They were declared dead on arrival at the St. Dominic Hospital.

The suspects reportedly yielded a caliber .38 revolver, a caliber .22 pistol and 10  sachets of shabu. – With Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ed Amoroso