ANTI-DRUGS policemen recovered on Thursday, June 4, over 800 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth about P5 billion in an operation in Marilao, Bulacan.
In a report, police said the drug bust was conducted around 3 p.m. in a residential house in Barangay Lias. Three suspects were arrested.
The report identified the suspects as Yuwen Cai, a Chinese national, Angela Miole Tulio and Ma. Lyn Miole Tulio, both Filipinos.
Police initially said they found about 756 kilograms of Illegal drugs with an estimated value of P5.14 billion stashed inside cans of biscuits with Japanese markings.
A report by the Bulacan Police Provincial Office on Friday, June 5, said the haul consisted of around 828 kilograms of shabu worth more than P5.63 billion based on Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) estimates.
Police also recovered the buy-bust money of P1 million.
PNP Chief Archie Gamboa said the house has been turned into a shabu warehouse.
“Meron kaming drug link na sinusunduan itong mga to which actually led here na there was a necessity na magconduct tayo ng surveillance kasi baka may laman and it turned out talagang may laman,” Gamboa said.
Gamboa said he believed that a big drug syndicate is behind the illegal drugs, which police suspected as imported.
“With that amount na nandito which is more than 700 kilos possible ito (malaking operation). Sabi ko nga it can even reach Visayas and Mindanao,” Gamboa said.
“With the packaging and just like what we apprehended last December, these are importation kasi nga we believe na even PDEA believes na wala nang (shabu) laboratory dito na malakihan. Meron din kitchen lab which can actually approximately produce 5 to 7 kilos in a week. So kung ganung 700 imagine how many weeks they are going to do that at ‘yung packaging niya mismo it doesn't suggest na they make it 5 to 7 kilos repacking every week. Bulto ito, pareho, exactly the same yung packaging, halos pareho lahat,” Gamboa added.
The operation was led by the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (DEG). (SunStar Philippines)