AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—A 62-year-old Chinese-Filipino businessman faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison after he was caught with P70 million worth of high-grade shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride.
Antonio Uy, a resident of Cavite City who is believed to be a member of a big-time drug group operating in Metro Manila, was arrested Wednesday on Roxas Boulevard in Manila by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency from whom he tried to escape in what was to be a buy-bust operation.
The operation was led by a PDEA agent who goes by the code-name of “Bombay” who said he contacted Uy through a confidential agent. He added that he introduced himself to Uy as a buyer.
“I pretended to be an Indian money lender who wanted to sell shabu on the side,” Bombay told the Inquirer.
The two agreed to meet Wednesday after exchanging text messages for nearly a month.
He said Uy was arrested by his team on Rajah Solaiman Street in Manila after a brief chase and was brought to the Manila Police District Station 5 for proper inventory of the seized illegal drugs.
He said that the suspect, who was in a Toyota Camry, drove away when he noticed the presence of a team of PDEA agents but was quickly cornered.
“It was supposed to be a quick exchange… but he sensed he was about to get caught so he drove off in his car,” the PDEA agent said.
The PDEA agent said Uy was under surveillance for almost two months before the buy–bust operation.
The agent said the large amount of the illegal drugs found in the trunk of his car surprised the agents.
“We did not expect him to be carrying this much illegal drugs because there are plenty of policemen and other law enforcers were plenty in the area,” he said, explaining that the transaction that was agreed on was one kilo of shabu for P1 million.
The agent said Uy had a “back-up” on a motorcycle who also drove away when Uy was arrested.
Bombay said the seized shabu was estimated to be worth P70 million. “The crystals were unpolished but high-grade,” he said.
The PDEA agent said that Uy belonged to a large group of drug dealers operating in Metro Manila.