₱754.8-million ‘shabu’ seized in two buy-bust operations in Pampanga

Law enforcement authorities seize P754.8 million worth of shabu or crystal meth during two buy-bust operations in Barangay Pampang in Angeles, Pampanga on February 19, 2023. Courtesy of PDEA

MANILA, Philippines — Shabu (crystal meth) worth P754.8 million was seized in two separate buy-bust operations in Angeles, Pampanga, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday.

A total of 111 kilograms of shabu was recovered during the anti-drug operations initiated by the combined law enforcements led by PDEA.

According to PDEA’s report, the buy-bust operation on Feb. 19 recovered 81 kilograms of suspected shabu worth ₱550.8 million in a townhouse in Barangay Pampang, Angeles City, Pampanga.

Courtesy of PDEA

A 51-year-old Chinese, Willy Tan Zhang, alias Ching, is one of the targets of the operation who collapsed while being arrested and declared dead on arrival when brought to Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center.

Along with Zhang, Reziel Barelos, 30, was also apprehended.

Another operation on Feb. 19 in Poinsettia Avenue, also in the same barangay, led to the arrest of two drug suspects and seizure of 30 kilograms of suspected shabu worth ₱204 million.

The suspects were identified as Yi Xin Li, 49, and Mark June Barsaga alias Mac Mac, 23.

Apart from the illegal drugs, non-drug evidence such as several mobile phones, a gray Toyota Avanza, identification cards, and buy-bust money were also confiscated from Yi and Barsaga.

The suspects in both anti-drug operations will be charged with violation of Article II, Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act No. 91659 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — Mae Anne F. Bilolo, INQUIRER.net intern

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JPV