PNP seizes PHP8.1-M of ‘shabu,’ nabs 3 Chinese in Pasay, Parañaque ops

MANILA: Operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) arrested three Chinese nationals and seized PHP8.1 worth of suspected shabu in separate anti-illegal drug operations in Pasay and Parañaque on Wednesday night. PDEG chief Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta, in a news release on Thursday, said a 26-year-old male Chinese national was arrested during a buy-bust conducted in Barangay 76, Zone 10 in Pasay City at about 6:10 p.m. The suspect yielded 546 grams of suspected shabu, 643 grams of suspected amphetamine hydrochloride, and 114 grams of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated street value of PHP7,693,000. He was brought to the Intelligence and Foreign Liaison Division of the PDEG, for temporary detention while the confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the PDEG for documentation and proper disposition. In a follow-up operation, PDEG operatives conducted another buy-bust in Barangay Don Bosco, Parañaque City at about 11:30 p.m., which resulted in the arrest of two m ore Chinese nationals, a 35-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman. A cohort managed to elude arrest. Seized from the two were approximately 100 grams of suspected ketamine with an estimated standard drug price of PHP500,000 along with other non-drug evidence. The arrested suspects and confiscated drug evidence were brought to Camp Bagong, Diwa, Taguig City for documentation and proper disposition. 'This operation displays the PNP DEG's unwavering dedication to safeguarding our community and expression of our professionalism, teamwork, and devotion to upholding the law. We will stay fully committed to ensure that justice will be served accordingly," Matta said. Seized narcotics under Marcos admin top P46.59-B Meanwhile, the Marcos administration's anti-drug campaign has netted a total of PHP46.59 billion worth of narcotics as of July this year, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported on Thursday. These include 6,059.82 kg. of shabu, 74.69 kg. of cocaine, 107,271 ecstasy tablets, and 5,213.5 1 kg. of marijuana seized from July 2022 to July 2024. Meanwhile, 28,866 out of 42,000 barangays (villages) in the country have been declared "drug-cleared" in the same period, while 6,650 are still being cleared by authorities. These barangays have reached drug-cleared status after the issuance of a certification by members of the oversight committee on the barangay drug-clearing program The latest PDEA data also showed 106,313 drug suspects were arrested, including 6,762 high-value targets, in 78,257 anti-illegal drug operations across the country. Authorities also dismantled 1,085 drug dens and a clandestine shabu laboratory during the same period. Source: Philippines News agency