At least P1.5 million worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) were seized from five men, including three teenagers, who were alleged to be bigtime sources of drugs across northern Manila.
On Wednesday, police arrested 18-year-olds Alsamil Ismael and Adih Aklabul; Jun Jun Sarri, 17; Yasser Onggo and Almajar Pailan in a buy-bust operation in Meycauayan, Bulacan province that yielded 15 packs of shabu weighing 650 grams in total.
Each pack was worth at least P100,000 in street value, said Senior Insp. Cecilio Tomas, Northern Police District drug enforcement unit chief.
The five men, all natives of Zamboanga City, were targeted after being identified as bigtime sources of narcotics peddled across Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela), Tomas said.
The men allegedly transported at least 300 grams of drugs from Bulacan province to northern Manila, particularly in Caloocan City, every three days, he told the Inquirer.
He added that they have already identified some of the men behind these five suspects.
It was unclear however whether they had any previous criminal records as this was the first time they encountered these suspects, Tomas said.
The five will undergo inquest proceedings for charges of violating Sections 5 (transportation and distribution), 11 (possession) and 26 (conspiracy to trade) of Republic Act No. 9165. /je