PDEA seizes P1.63 billion worth of crystal meth

MISDECLARED Packs of “shabu,” or crystal meth, worth P1.632 billion are seized from two Chinese nationals in Cabanatuan City on Friday. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport arrested two male Chinese nationals in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, on Friday after claiming a shipment of “shabu,” or crystal meth, valued at P1.632 billion.

PDEA Central Luzon Director Christian Frivaldo identified the suspects as Jayson Tang and James Ong, both of legal age.

PDEA said the 240-kilo cargo was originally declared as “work bench tables” and shipped by a certain Ywlee 87 Trading from Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, and consigned to a certain company called, “Allejam International Trading” from Manila.

“The cargo arrived on Oct. 24. Through close coordination and surveillance, the misdeclared cargo was identified and subjected to X-ray scanning and physical examination, which led to the discovery of heavily wrapped plastic packs of shabu,” Frivaldo said.