P500M worth of shabu seized after fleeing pick-up falls into canal in Zamboanga City

A pick-up truck carrying over half a billion pesos worth of alleged shabu fell into a canal after it attempted to flee from police in Zamboanga City on Tuesday evening. 

According to John Consulta’s report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the vehicle was severely damaged after the accident. Earlier, its driver ignored a police checkpoint and tried to evade the pursuing cops. 

Upon inspection of the stricken pick-up, authorities recovered two pieces of luggage containing  so-called “tsaa-bu” or shabu packed inside Chinese tea bags. 

The 46-year-old driver of the vehicle was arrested. Meanwhile, the other occupants, his wife and child, were injured and brought to a hospital for treatment. Police said the suspect brought them along to make it appear that they were traveling to a family activity. 

However, police had already monitored the movement of the pick-up truck which was supposed to deliver drugs to a province in the Zamboanga Peninsula. 

GMA Integrated News is trying to seek comment from the suspect, who is now under the custody of the Zamboanga City Police. 

The police said they are now backtracking the suspected narcotics in order to trace their source.

According to a Saksi report, police said the drugs came from Malaysia that entered the country via Siasi, Sulu before it reached Zamboanga City. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News