DRUG COURIERS. Police officers present to the media two suspects who were arrested in a follow-up operation in Las Piñas City on Wednesday (Nov. 27, 2019). Joel and Merwin Bustamante, alleged couriers of Chinese drug suspect Liu Chao who was earlier arrested in Makati City, yielded PHP115.6 million worth of shabu during the operation. (Photo courtesy of Southern Police District)
MANILA -- Authorities on Wednesday seized some PHP115.6 million worth of suspected shabu in Las Piñas City and arrested two alleged couriers linked to the Chinese national earlier arrested in a separate anti-drug operation.
Brig. Gen. Nolasco Bathan, Southern Police District (SPD) director, identified the two suspects as Joel and Merwin Bustamante, both residents of Malabon City.
The two were arrested in a follow-up raid conducted by the operatives of Las Piñas City Police Station and PNP Drug Enforcement Group at a parking lot in C5 Extension in Barangay Manuyo around 11:30 a.m.
The raid yielded 17 plastic packs containing suspected shabu. The suspects and the pieces of evidence are now under the custody of the PNP-Drug Enforcement Group.
Bathan said arrested suspects are the courier of Liu Chao, the Chinese national who was arrested earlier by the same operatives in Makati City Tuesday night.
Seized from Liu were 371 kilos of shabu with a street value of PHP2.522 billion which were hidden in large travel bags and are believed to be ready for distribution.
Chao rented an apartment in Makati two weeks ago for the purpose of storing illegal drugs.
But Liu reportedly started selling shabu through his contacts, which in turn, resulted in the police monitoring it.
Bathan assured that the PNP will not rest in arresting drug syndicates or groups that continuously destroy the lives of many people. (PNA)
