P27.2 million shabu seized in Zamboanga

MANILA, Philippines — Anti-narcotics operatives seized methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P27.2 million from a ”high-value” drug suspect who was killed in a sting in Zamboanga City on Friday.

Puruti Taraji shot it out with personnel of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group in Barangay Maasin at around 10 p.m., PDEG director Brig Gen. Randy Peralta said.

Around four kilos of shabu placed in tea bags and a 9mm handgun were reportedly recovered from Taraji.

Peralta said Taraji had connections with a Malaysian drug ring operating in Tawi-Tawi, Jolo, Basilan, Zamboanga peninsula and Northern Mindanao.

In Kalinga, dried marijuana leaves valued at P13.5 million were confiscated in Lubuagan town on Friday.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Cordillera Administrative Region head Gil Castro said Aldren Paul Pacion, 27, and Jaymor Eusebio, 31, both residents of Tuao, Cagayan, were arrested at a checkpoint in Barangay Dangoy at around 4 a.m.

Castro said PDEA and local police personnel conducted the operation after receiving reports that two men were transporting a large amount of marijuana.

He said two cellular phones and the white L300 van used by the suspects were seized. – Roel Pareño, Artemio Dumlao