Chinese, 2 Pinoy aides arrested in 10-kilo ‘shabu’ bust

A Chinese national suspected to be a big-time drug dealer and his two Filipino companions were arrested by the Quezon City police in a buy-bust operation that yielded 10 kilos of “shabu” with an estimated street value of P30 million.

Yonghan Cai, 41, a resident of Tanza, Cavite province, was entrapped in a restaurant on Macapagal Avenue, Baclaran, Parañaque City, around noon Friday in a joint operation of Quezon City Police District’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group and its District Special Operations Unit.

Also arrested were Cai’s alleged accomplices: Jamael Dimaro, a 19-year-old who served as his driver; and 33-year-old Aira Rañese, both residents of Fairview, Quezon City.

Chief Insp. Enrico Figueroa, the task group chief, said the operation was an offshoot of a Nov. 25 drug bust where 3 kilos of shabu were seized from two arrested suspects.

The resulting leads and two-week surveillance work that followed enabled undercover agents and a poseur buyer to arrange the purchase of a kilo of shabu from Cai.

The P1-million transaction was originally set in Cubao, Quezon City, at 6 a.m. on Friday, but the Chinese suspect suddenly decided to have it in Parañaque.

Aside from the 1 kilo that was presented to the buyer, the arresting team found nine more kilos of the drug in two vehicles used by the suspects: 4 kilos in a light blue Isuzu Crosswind (ZPM-401) and 5 kilos in a black Honda Civic (NRI-758).

The suspects face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. Erika Sauler