CEBU CITY (Updated) -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Visayas and Western Visayas regions seized on Monday illegal drugs that were hidden inside the soles of sandals.
In Cebu City, some P8 million worth of shabu were confiscated by the PDEA-Central Visayas on Monday afternoon.
A total of 20 large packs of the drug, weighing 50 grams each, were seized from Editha Yamas Paul, 58, and her daughter Maricris Paul, 32, both residents of Barangay Lorega, Cebu City.
PDEA agents in Central Visayas Region received a tip from the PDEA-National Capital Region (NCR) that the shabu would be delivered through a courier service on Monday.
With the coordination of the courier service company, the PDEA waited for the package to arrive in the city, then intercepted Editha and Maricris after the women claimed the drugs at 3:50 p.m.
The package was reportedly sent from a mall in Alabang.
According to PDEA-Central Visayas Operations Chief David Mark Maramba, the package contained slippers and sandals.
When the box was opened, the agents found 10 pairs of slippers embellished with feathers and, beneath this batch, another 10 pairs of rubber wedge sandals.
The agents noticed a bulge in the heels of the wedge sandals, then found packs of shabu concealed just above the soles.
In Bacolod City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas Region seized a kilo of shabu worth P7 million during a raid also on Monday afternoon at the parking lot of Gaisano grand mall in the city.
“So far, this is the biggest illegal drug supply we have seized in the whole region,” PDEA Regional Director Paul Ledesma said.
He said they confiscated a kilo of shabu worth P7 million from 36-year-old Edgardo Justo alias “Rey F. Roman.”
Ledesma led the five agents who conducted the operation around 2 p.m.
The contraband was seized from Justo’s possession after a test buy wherein a PDEA agent was able to purchase P500 worth of shabu from him.
After the purchase was completed, the suspect was arrested. A search of his Isuzu DMax pick-up vehicle yielded a package containing slippers and shoes. Upon inspection, sachets of shabu were found inserted inside the soles of the slippers and shoes.
The operatives conducted surveillance operations days before the raid.
The suspect was monitored picking up contraband at a hotel and claiming a package believed to contain the slippers and shoes where the illegal drugs were found.
Ledesma said Justo told him that the illegal drugs supply they confiscated Monday was already the second shipment, adding that the first one of lesser volume arrived about two or three weeks ago. (Sun.Star Cebu/Sun.Star Bacolod/Sunnex)