MANILA, Philippines — Police seized shabu (crystal meth) in Las Piñas City worth P6.8 million from a Nigerian national, who was previously detained for drug charges, the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) said Friday.
In a report, PDEG operatives identified the suspect as Kingsley Chidi Iwumune, 46, a resident of Las Piñas City.
The PDEG said the buy-bust operation against Iwumune was done at a supermarket along Gatchalian Avenue on Thursday at 8:15 p.m.
Seized from the suspect were over one kilogram of shabu with an estimated street value of P6.8 million.
Iwumune is now under the custody of PDEG as a complaint for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is being readied against him before the city prosecutor’s office.
In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, PDEG spokesman Police Lieutenant Colonel Enrico Rigor said they hatched the drug bust after an asset tipped police about Iwumune’s illegal drug activities.
“Buy-bust iyan. Kapag buy-bust may [police] asset na nagreport sa atin sa illegal activity niya [Iwumune],” Rigor said.
(It is a buy-bust. If it is a buy-bust there is a police asset who informs us about his activities.)
Iwumune was also previously detained in 2018 for illegal drug complaints, Rigor revealed.
“Nakulong iyan [Iwumune] for drugs din. 2018 siya nakawala,” Rigor said.
Rigor said the suspect was released in 2018 possibly after the case was dismissed.