(Photo courtesy of PDEA)
MANILA – Anti-narcotics operatives confiscated a total of PHP1.57 billion worth of shabu in the first eight days of March alone.
In a press briefing late Tuesday, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Wilkins Villanueva said the amount includes the PHP1.088 billion worth of shabu from a Chinese national and his Filipino cohort in a buy-bust in Valenzuela City on Tuesday afternoon.
“All in all, these anti-drug operations resulted in the seizure of 231.2 kilograms of shabu worth PHP1.57 billion,” Villanueva said.
He said the operation that led to the arrest of suspects Tianzhu Lyu of Fujian, China, and Meliza Villanueva of Concepcion, Tarlac, is a result of intensive "human and technical intelligence operations".
He added that Lyu is an alleged member of a Chinese drug syndicate called “The Company”.
“’The Company’ is operating in Southeast Asia and yung source nito is doon pa rin galing sa Golden Triad (Its source is also from the Golden Triad),” he said.
Lyu and Villanueva are known drug dealers operating in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon, he added.
On March 1, a buy-bust yielded two kilograms of shabu worth PHP13.6 million and resulted in the arrest of one suspect.
On March 2, authorities seized a total of PHP435.2 million worth of shabu and arrested two suspects in separate operations in Cavite and Bulacan.
On March 3, another PHP1.36 million worth of shabu was seized while four suspects were arrested in Cebu.
A day later, law enforcers seized PHP34 million worth of shabu and nabbed one suspect in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
All suspects will be charged with the violation of Sections 5 and 11 Article II of Republic Act (RA) 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
