OPERATIVES of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized in a dawn operation in Quezon province on Tuesday, March 15, P11 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), considered the biggest drug haul in Philippine history.
The operation, conducted around 4 a.m. of March 15 in Barangay Comon, Infanta, also resulted in the arrest of 10 malefactors who were caught transporting the illegal drugs on board three commuter vans.
Arrested were Jamelanie Samsono, Reynante Alpuerto, Jenard Samson, Mark Bryan Abonita, Dante Manoso, Kennedy Abonita, Marvin Gallardo, Eugene Pandoma, Alvin Evardo and Jaymante Gallaro.
NBI Deputy Director for Forensic Investigation Service and concurrent spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said the shabu was placed in about 1,589 tea bags.
NBI chemists and forensic experts conducted inventory and laboratory processing of the seized illegal drugs Wednesday, March 16.
All the arrested suspects, meanwhile, will be presented for inquest proceedings for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165, or Transportation of Illegal Drugs, said the NBI.
Tuesday’s operation was conducted by operatives of the NBI-Task Force Against Illegal Drugs, NBI-Research and Analysis Division and Lucena District Office, in coordination with Philippine National Police-Infanta and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Lucena.
It happened one week after PDEA and police personnel confiscated over P1 billion worth of shabu, weighing approximately 160 kilograms, in a drug bust in Valenzuela City.
In the Valenzuela operation, conducted last March 8, two suspects were arrested.
NBI OIC-Director Eric Distor commended his men Tuesday, March 15, for a job well done and vowed that the war against illegal drugs will continue.
He said they will relentlessly pursue those engaged in the illegal drug trade.
Distor also gave spot promotion to all those who participated in the operation.