‘Shabu’ seized in undercover Manila operation

Police seized a kilogram of “shabu” during an undercover buy-bust operation in Manila on Thursday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported.

In a statement on Saturday, PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. said authorities arrested a certain Geoffrey Savalle along Pedro Gil corner Quirino Avenue at around 6:30 p.m. after the 46-year-old resident of Makati City sold shabu to an undercover PDEA agent who acted as a buyer.

The drug was inside a transparent plastic bag placed in a brown paper bag, the statement said.

PDEA said authorities confiscated from Savalle six P500 bills reportedly used as marked money, a mobile phone and a red Mitsubishi Lancer GLXI with plate number UUJ 962.

Savalle is set to face charges in court for violating Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, particularly Section 5 or the provision on Sale of Dangerous Drugs, and Section 11 or the provision on Possession of Dangerous Drugs.

Antinarcotics operatives also arrested two “target-listed” drug carriers in another operation on the same day in Recto.

PDEA said suspects Ali Emam and Mohamad Midtonong of North Cotabato were reprimanded after they agreed to sell a transparent plastic sachet of crystalline substance suspected to be shabu at the food court area of Isetann Mall.

“Confiscated from Emam and Midtonong were one knot-tied transparent plastic bag containing suspected shabu, two cellular phones and the buy-bust money,” the agency said.

The arrested suspects are currently detained at the PDEA National Capital Region-Regional Office. RC