MANILA, Philippines — A shipment of 240 kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of P1.63 billion was confiscated in a controlled delivery operation in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija on Friday night.
Chinese citizens Jayson Tan and James Ong, who received the cargo in Barangay Sumacap Sur, were arrested by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The shipment, which was misdeclared as work bench tables, arrived in the country on Oct. 24.
The operation was launched after an x-ray scan and physical examination of the cargo yielded 240 packs of shabu.
BOC records show that the illegal drugs were shipped by Ywlee 87 Trading from Selangcor, Malaysia. The shipment was consigned to Allejam International Trading.
“Pinuntahan natin ang source ng droga. Lahat ito ay mananagot,” PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva said during a joint news briefing with BOC officials yesterday.
Based on monitoring by PDEA, Villanueva said the suspects received another shipment of illegal drugs on Aug. 27.
He said the suspects are now considered a ”local source” of illegal drugs in the country.
Four cellular phones and two vehicles were also recovered from the two Chinese citizens.
The suspects face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act in relation to Section 1410 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Meanwhile, in Bulacan, P6.8 million worth of shabu was confiscated from Yahser Mamowalas and Ansano Domagay in a sting in Barangay Ibayao, Marilao, also on Friday.
In Surigao del Sur, shabu valued at P228,000 was seized in drug busts in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte.
Police said Jeverey Salcedo, 43; Bermude Amper, 37; Ramil Tadifa 37, and Jeffrey Paceño were arrested. – Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Rudy Santos, Victor Martin, Artemio Dumlao, Ben Serrano