Trader, driver arrested in QC drug bust; P9M shabu seized

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District arrested on Wednesday, two suspected members of a Chinese drug syndicate in a buy-bust operation that yielded three kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) with a street value of P9 million.

Businessman Paul Co, 44, married, a resident of Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City, and Arvin Caray, 38, family driver, resident of Makati City, were arrested at 5:45 a.m. at the corner of V. Luna Avenue and Mapagbigay Street, in Barangay Piñahan.

The group of the suspects were among the nine major drug groups being monitored by the Philippine National Police, said Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento who congratulated the QCPD for the arrest that coincided with its 76th anniversary celebration.

The PNP Anti Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force is intensifying the campaign against street-level sale and the mushrooming of shabu tiangge where “illegal drugs are being sold like candies,” Sarmiento said.

Wednesday’s sting operation was carried out after two weeks of surveillance and undercover work by the QCPD District Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (DAID-SOTG) led by Chief Insp. Enrico Figueroa and the District Special Operations Unit headed by Supt. Jay Agcaoili.

Police confiscated the suspects’ red Suzuki Swift (Plate No. JTS88), three cell phones and 10 pieces of marked P1,000 bills included in the P1 million boodle money for 1 kilo of shabu. Police found two more kilos of shabu after the arrest.

Figueroa said the arrest was part of the ongoing case operation plan “Extirpate Meth Incubus” of DAID-SOTG against drug syndicates operating in Quezon City.

The suspects will be charged with the sale and possession of illegal drugs under Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

(With a report from Krizia Jamille Yap, Inquirer trainee).  SFM