PDEA nabs 4 Chinese over P124-M shabu seized in Pangasinan raid

Authorities have arrested four Chinese over P124 million worth of shabu seized from a safe house in Pangasinan.

Athena Imperial's reported Saturday on Balitanghali that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) described as one of the biggest hauls of shabu seized in northern Philippines.

PDEA operatives identified the suspects as Lu Jun, Zuo Sheng Li, Li Yu, and Ye Ling. Two of them allegedly used fake passports while one of them failed to present any documentation.

NBI and PDEA officials said the operation was conducted with the help of an informant.

Authorities also say the suspects could have four more safe houses in Pangasinan and that they could also be linked to illegal drug operations in Metro Manila.

"Yung Pangasinan ay parang visible operation lang nila pero nagdi-distribute din sila sa Manila,"  Diosdado Araos, agent-in-charge at the NBI-Laoag District Office, said.

"Sa  palagay ko ito yung biggest haul ng drugs sa Pangasinan, kahit sa Ilocos," he added.

NBI Spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said they were trying to do a "more qualitative forensic examination" on the illegal drugs.

"Lumalabas kasi sa operation na transporter ito...Too early to tell if these are the same drugs na galing sa labas or locally manufactured," he said.

"Maraming na-monitor na mga kasama ito. And we're monitoring them, we're tracking them after this operation," said Atty. Ross Jonathan Galicia of the National Bureau of Investigation.

According to the PDEA, the Chinese Embassy has been notified about the four suspects who are scheduled for inquest for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

They have not issued any statement so far. They also refused to answer questions, even as one of them was able to speak English. —Margaret Claire Layug/LBG, GMA News