560 kilos of shabu worth P3.8 billion seized in Pampanga

The National Bureau of Investigation has seized 560 kilos of suspected shabu worth P3.8 billion following a controlled delivery operation at a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga.

The NBI said an undercover operative of its Task Force Against Illegal Drugs infiltrated a suspected drug syndicate and discovered its plan to smuggle and distribute the drugs in the Philippines. The persons involved have also been identified.

The NBI confiscated 59 brown boxes containing 530 mixed red tea bags and golden tea bags containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu and a plastic bag of chicharon or dried fish to conceal the illegal drugs along with cases of soft drinks and sacks of feeds with markings in Thai.

The illegal drugs arrived at the Subic Port on Sept. 18 onboard the vessel Sitc Shekou from Thailand.

The NBI conducted a physical examination together with representatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

“The results confirmed the presence of methamphetamine, commonly known as shabu, categorized as a dangerous drug under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9165,” the BOC said in a statement.

“These illicit substances were concealed within a 1x40' container, originally declared to contain 881 bags of animal feed from Thailand,” it added.

The seized drugs were immediately handed over to the PDEA, followed by the execution of a controlled delivery operation in Purok 5 San Jose Malino, Mexico, Pampanga on Sept. 24.

The operation was completed on Sept. 27 when the combined elements of NBI, PDEA and NICA seized the illegal drugs after uncovering the identities of the personalities involved in this case. —NB, GMA Integrated News