MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested on Monday two persons and confiscated from them around P7.4 million worth of shabu during a sting in Marikina City, which authorities said could be part of the P2.6-billion drug haul in Makati last month.
Operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Marikina police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency took part in the sting in Barangay Concepcion Uno at around 8:45 p.m.
Christian Lucero, 18, and Jomalyn Poblete, 23, allegedly yielded some 1.2 kilos of shabu.
National Capital Region Police Office chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said they were investigating if the seized drugs were part of the shabu haul in Makati on Nov. 27.
Sinas said the shabu stuffed in tea bags confiscated from Lucero and Poblete were similar with the drugs recovered by police in Makati.
QCPD director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo said the sting was hatched after they received information that the suspects were allegedly pushing drugs in Marikina.
The suspects were nabbed after they allegedly sold shabu for P6,000 to a policeman who posed as a buyer.
During interrogation, police said Lucero identified his alleged drug supplier as Judith Borda, a brother of an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Lucero said he received instructions from Borda to remit the drug proceeds to a certain bank account.
Borda, who was on the drug watchlist of the Marikina police, has been eluding arrest by hiding in the slum areas of the city where he was being shielded by his supporters.
“The small fry we arrested in previous operations pointed to Lucero as their source of drugs,” Sinas said.
More drug suspects fall
In Quezon City, five persons were arrested for alleged possession of over P500,000 worth of shabu yesterday.
The suspects were Apple Magsalin, 25; Emmanuel Estoque, 45; Michael Angelo Sotole, 29; Artemio Avila, 27, and Michael Rayoso, 28.
Police said Magsalin was on the drug watchlist.
Probers said the suspects were nabbed after they sold shabu to a police officer in exchange for P10,000.