Chinese caught with P2.5 billion shabu

MANILA, Philippines — At least 371 kilos of shabu valued at P2.5 billion were confiscated from a Chinese man in Makati late Tuesday night, in what police said was the largest drug haul so far this year.

Liu Chao was apprehended by operatives of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group shortly after he allegedly transacted with a policeman who posed as a buyer, PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said.

The sting was hatched days after Vice President Leni Duterte was fired as co-chairperson of the administration’s anti-drug body.

Gamboa said Liu was arrested in an apartment along Banuyo street in Barangay San Antonio at around 11:45 p.m.

“Within the year, ito ‘yung pinakamalaki,” Gamboa said, referring to the drug haul.

A kilo of shabu has an estimated street value of P6.8 million, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The drugs were concealed in packs of green tea and dog food to avoid detection, probers said.

Gamboa said their investigation showed that Liu has been staying in the apartment for about two weeks and allegedly distributing around six to seven kilos of shabu to every buyer.

In Las Piñas City, around P115.6 million worth of shabu was recovered yesterday by police from two suspected drug couriers.

The anti-narcotics operation was an offshoot of the Makati drug bust, according to authorities.

Police said Josel Bustamante and Merwin Bustamante were alleged couriers for Liu.

The Bustamantes allegedly yielded 17 kilos of shabu stuffed in Chinese green tea.

Police said they were investigating how the drugs were smuggled into the country.

Gamboa said they would conduct follow-up operations to track down other people who could be involved in the shabu smuggling.

“What is certain is that the drugs came from another country. Galing pa sa biyahe at inimpake in such a way na parang ibang produkto,” he said.

More drug suspects fall

In Quezon City, 19 persons were collared in separate stings that yielded more than P581,000 worth of shabu in the past two days.

In Muntinlupa, drug suspects Noh Manalingan, 43, and Jay Jabbar, 19, were nabbed for alleged possession of P34,000 worth of shabu.

Police said they recovered over five grams of shabu, P100,000 in cash, a Honda Civic, two cell phones, a gold watch and P5,000 in marked money from the suspects. 

Four other drug suspects were arrested by police in Navotas and Malabon. – With Ghio Ong, Marc Jayson Cayabyab