Metro Manila District Jail search yields drugs

Surprise Galugad at the Bicutan BJMP. INQUIRER/Marianne Bermudez

Police and jail operatives found several contraband items, including at least 70 sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu,” during a surprise search inside the Metro Manila District Jail (MMDJ) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Thursday. 

Members of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, in cooperation with Bureau of Immigration authorities conducted a surprise “Oplans Greyhound and Galugad” at the MMDJ with over 5,000 inmates. 

The search was conducted after the NCRPO received information that there were illegal drug transactions involving Chinese inmates happening inside the jail, NCRPO head Director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde said. 

“We received reports na mayroong mga transactions na nangyayari dito sa loob, particularly dito sa mga selda ng mga Chinese (that there were transactions happening inside, particularly in the cells of the Chinese inmates),” he said in an interview over radio dzBB. 

“Nag-conduct na tayo ng Oplan Galugad para ma-prevent ‘yung paglaki nung transaction dito sa loob at nakakahiya na ito ay kampo pa ng PNP (We conducted the Oplan Galugad to prevent the growth of transactions inside and it’s embarassing that this is a PNP camp),” he said. 

Albayalde said least 70 sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia, undetermined amount of cash, bladed weapons, cellphones, laptops, television sets, poker chips were among the items confiscated from the inmates.

The operatives also recovered a logbook containing several names and their bank accounts. 

The Metro Manila police chief said an investigation will be conducted on jail guards manning MMDJ. /rga

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