PDEA agents seize P1.13-B worth of shabu in Muntinlupa

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino (center) and PDEA Director III Irish Calaguas (left) led two operations in Muntinlupa that yielded 166.5 kilograms of crystal meth worth an estimated P1.13 billion. (Photo from PDEA)

Updated @ 6:00 p..m., March 20, 2019, to correct figures for the estimated value of drugs

MANILA, Philippines — Operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized 166.5 kilograms of crystal meth, or shabu, worth an estimated P1.13 billion in two operations in Muntinlupa on Tuesday, March 19.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino and PDEA Director III Irish Calaguas led the operations.

The first operation, a buy-bust, took place at 5:00 p.m. at the parking lot on Madrigal Avenue, where the agents nabbed three Chinese nationals identified as Kei-Kei Go, 40; Emmanuel Pascual, 79; and Kian-Kok Chua, 43.

The agents seized from them 43.5 kg of shabu worth an estimated P295 million.

The second operation, a raid, took place at 6:30 p.m. at 175 Apitong St. in Ayala Alabang Village, where the agents seized 123 kg of shabu worth an estimated P836 million.

They also arrested a 19-year-old Chinese national identified as Yi Wu.

“Based on the packaging, these drugs came from the Golden Triangle of drug syndicates. This is the same packaging seized by other nations such as Thailand and Vietnam,” Aquino said in a press briefing.

However, Aquino said they have yet to look into details of the suspects they had arrested and determine to which group they belong.

“Nobody wants to talk dito sa grupo nito. Actually, I think they are from mainland China,” he said./atm

PDEA agents arrested this Chinese national during the operation in Muntinlupa. (Photo from PDEA)