PNP: Almost P118-M worth of ‘shabu’ seized in Bicol drug stings

LEGAZPI CITY – Close to P118 million worth of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) were confiscated in various anti-illegal drug operations during the first five months of this year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol said.

Police Brigadier General Anthony Alcañeses, Bicol police chief, said 22 kilos of shabu and 42 grams of marijuana were seized by different police units in Bicol during the period January to May.

Among the notable drug operation was the neutralization of Dirimpasan Pangandang Unte, a high-value target (HVT), who was slain in a shootout with police operatives at a drug operation on in Naga City in Camarines Sur on February. The drug sting yielded 107 grams of shabu worth P536,790.

Another was the recovery of 20 kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of Php 106,000,000 that was intercepted at Matnog Port Area, Matnog, Sorsogon on January 16. Arrested were drug couriers Irish Dela Peña and Jose Lani Rocaza, both residents of Muntinlupa City.

As for the drug cleared barangays, the report said 1,098 villages or 38 percent of the 2,783 drug-affected barangays have been cleared as of this period.