Chinese caught with P10M worth of shabu

MANILA, Philippines—Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday arrested a Chinese man for trying to sell shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride to an undercover antinarcotics agent.

Clarence Chen Go, also known as Tony Go, a 36-year-old Xiamen native, was nabbed during the buy-bust operation on Timog Avenue, Quezon City, before dawn, officials said.

PDEA Director General Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. said Go was caught handing over a “gift-wrapped” package containing a kilo of shabu to a PDEA agent at about 1 a.m.

He also yielded two other gift-wrapped packages each containing 500 grams of shabu, investigators said. The two kilos of shabu found in Go’s possession are worth at least P10 million, based on prevailing street prices.

Gutierrez added that Go had been placed by PDEA under surveillance as part of the so-called “Case Operation Plan: Iceman” aimed at neutralizing threats posed by a group responsible for the proliferation of drugs in Metro Manila and nearby areas.

“Undercover PDEA agents entered into a transaction with Go a week ago for a kilogram of shabu [worth] P 3.6 million. Go and his group normally transact with clients through [the] bank prior to delivery,” Gutierrez said.

He said the PDEA was considering the possibility of referring the case to the Anti-Money Laundering Council to investigate possible money laundering activities.

Earlier this week, Marvin Sia, a Chinese-Filipino model and businessman was arrested at his house in Quezon City after he received packages addressed to him that contained eight kilos of shabu worth P40 million.

This followed a series of drug operations, including raids on houses in the exclusive Ayala Alabang Village which led to the seizure of drugs and drug-making equipment, and the interception of drug ingredients by customs officials.