P36.8M suspected shabu in tea bags or 'tsaa-bu' seized in QC

An estimated P36.8 million worth of "tsaa-bu" or suspected illegal drugs placed inside tea bags and alleged to be part of a big time transaction in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon were seized by officials, according to a report by Mai Bermudez on GMA News' Saksi on Friday.

The suspected shabu were discovered inside Chinese-labelled tea bags during a buy-bust operation on Misamis Road in Barangay Sto. Cristo in Quezon City.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Drug Enforcement Unit estimated the street value of the seized items at P36.8 million.

The items were seized from the suspect identified as 43-year-old Jason John Alberca alias Jun-Jun, a CCTV installer.

A news source said the alleged sale of illegal drugs was conducted in front of a school in the area and the suspect was nabbed after the transaction was finalized.

Alberca said he was only following an instruction to hand over the items in exchange for money.

The joint operation was conducted by the NCRPO, City Drug Enforcement Unit of Lipa in Batangas, and Quezon City Police District Station 15.

The alleged distribution of the illegal drugs is done in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.

The suspect will undergo a drug test and will be detained at Camp Bagong Diwa.

He will also face charges related for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. —BAP/KG, GMA News