Airport-bound pot smokers yield bag with 10-kg ‘shabu’

MANILA, Philippines—Two men accosted for smoking marijuana near a Manila police station in Binondo ended up being charged for a much more serious offense: Keeping 10 kilograms of “shabu” in a travel bag.

The Manila Police District on Tuesday announced the arrest of John Chua Sy and Anthony Chiu, who initially drew the attention of a concerned citizen on Felipe Street for smoking pot around 5:30 a.m. a few meters away from the MPD’s Meisic station.

Their outdoor pot session cut short by the police, Sy and Chiu were carrying two pieces of luggage when brought to the station. “When we asked them to open their bags for inspection, both of them refused and this made us more suspicious,” said Supt. Raymund Liguden, the station commander.

The bags of shabu were found in a red and gray trolley bag, said Liguden, who estimated the contraband to be worth P118 million. The suspects also yielded a pack of marijuana sticks.

Later presented to reporters, Chiu claimed they were not aware that they had shabu in one of their bags since “we were just paid P2,500 each to bring the two bags to the airport.”

Chiu said a Chinese national handed them the bags at a hotel near the area and that they were on Felipe Street to wait for someone who would take them to the airport. He said he met the Chinese at 168 Mall in Divisoria last month.

Chiu claimed he is a Caloocan City resident and that he and Sy met only for the first time that day after receiving the same instructions from the Chinese man.