By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – A buy-bust operation in Quezon City early Wednesday morning resulted in the confiscation of PHP142.2 million worth of shabu and the arrest of two suspects.
The suspects, identified only as “Eli” and “Rolando,” both motorcycle taxi drivers, were caught red-handed selling 500 grams of shabu to an undercover agent posing as a buyer, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
In a statement, PDEA said an estimated 21 kilograms of shabu packed in plastic containers were seized from the suspects.
A subsequent search of the suspects’ vehicle and belongings led to the discovery of an additional 20.5 kilograms of the illegal substance.
The drug haul, PDEA said, indicates “a large-scale trafficking operation that could have supplied substantial quantities of illegal drugs in communities in Metro Manila and nearby regions.”
“By removing these drugs from circulation, we have saved countless Filipino lives,” PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez said.
The suspects will be charged with violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) in relation to Section 26 (Conspiracy to Sell), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Most wanted
Meanwhile, in Pasay City, police arrested on Tuesday a businessman included in the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) list of national-level most wanted persons.
Mark Steven Freeman, 37, who had a PHP400,000 reward for his arrest under DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2023-185, was arrested by virtue of 19 warrants of arrest issued by several regional trial courts in Cagayan de Oro City and Zamboanga City.
Police said most of Freeman’s cases involve syndicated estafa and violations of Republic Act 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code, while one case involves large-scale swindling.
Online gambling
In a related development, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrine Group (PNP-ACG) on Wednesday announced the arrest of four Korean nationals involved in illegal online gambling activities in Cebu City.
At a press briefing, PNP-ACG chief Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta said the four were arrested on March 2 during an operation launched after the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU 7) received a tip from an informant regarding alleged illegal online gambling activities being conducted by foreign nationals at a condominium unit in Cebu City.
He said acting on the information, RACU 7 conducted validation and discreet surveillance operations, which confirmed the reported illegal activities.
“Ipinag-utos ng ating gobyerno na ang mga gambling activities online ay ipinagbabawal kung ito ay hindi nakarehistro or authorized ng ating Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Our government has ordered that online gambling activities are prohibited if they are not registered or authorized by PAGCOR),” Asueta said. (PNA)
