Cops seize P13.6M worth of shabu, nab drug suspect in Laguna

Illegal drugs estimated to be worth P13.6 million were seized in a buy-bust operation in San Pedro, Laguna on Tuesday night, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

Citing reports from the PNP Drug Enforcement Unit, PNP officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspect as one Edgarfeel Baloni Sakilan alias Kalbo, 42 years old.

PNP described Sakilan as an alleged notorious drug courier operating in Region 3, National Capital Region, Region 4A, and Mindanao areas.

Recovered items from the suspect were more or less two kilograms of suspected shabu, a sedan car, a cellular phone, and two genuine P1,000 bills mixed with boodle money amounting to P1.3 million.

Based on initial investigation, the PNP said the suspect is one of the cohorts of earlier arrested suspect Michael Romualdez,  a warehouseman in Imus City, Cavite.

Their supply of illegal drugs were from a certain Chinese national who reportedly contacts them using an international number based in Hongkong, the PNP said.

According to PNP, the drug group is composed of Filipino and Chinese nationals who operate by dispatching vehicles loaded with the illegal drugs.

Eleazar said the suspects’ transaction was discovered when one of the personnel of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group  Special Operations Unit 3 (PNPDEG SOU 3) entered the drug syndicate with the help of a confidential informant.

It was also discovered that the suspects were residing in Donya Soledad  and AFP Village in Taguig.

Through monitoring and surveillance operations, authorities learned that the suspects have been using different vehicles during their transactions.

Sakilan will be charged for the violation of Section 5 and 11, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, the PNP said.

He was brought to PNPDEG SOU 3 for documentation and proper disposition, according to Eleazar. — Joviland Rtia/RSJ, GMA News