P5-M shabu found in Alabang condo

POLICE operatives seized early Monday, April 23, P5-million worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) from a condominium unit in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, believed to be rented by a Chinese national.

Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Director Albert Ignatius Ferro said his men, along with elements of Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-National Capital Region and local police, raided the Room 323 rented by Yang Ang Quan, alias Li Hong Peng, at the Marimba building in Barangay Buli, Muntinlupa City.

The operatives were armed with a search warrant issued by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court against Peng, leader of a drug syndicate operating in Metro Manila.

Police recovered from Peng's condominium unit four packs of suspected illegal drugs, two cell phones, and assorted documents.

No one was in the unit during the operation, which stemmed from the drug bust conducted simultaneously by the PDEG and PDEA in Alabang and Makati on March 23.

Arrested in the March 23 drug bust were three Filipinos and a Chinese national. Illegal drug worth P50 million were also recovered.

“Last March 23, we conducted two buy-bust in Alabang and Makati, one of the suspect (who) was arrested in Makati, we were able to trace his safehouse and this morning, we served the search warrant and seized several suspected shabu amounting to P5 million,” said Ferro.

He said Peng was among their high-value target. He was married to a Filipina and was arrested in a drug bust on April 29, 2012. Police recovered from the Chinese national at least 20 kilos of illegal drugs.

Peng, however, was able to post bail.

“We are trying to conduct further investigation of how the judge allowed him to post bail,” said Ferro.

Ferro said they are still investigating the connection between Peng’s drug syndicate group and three clandestine laboratories discovered two weeks ago in Batangas, Malabon and Marikina that were reportedly ran by Chinese nationals.

He said they are also conducting manhunt operations against Peng. (SunStar Philippines)