Lawmen arrested three Taiwanese nationals and seized 55 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, worth P275 million during a buy-bust operation in Ayala-Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City early Wednesday morning.
Joint elements of the National Capital Region Police Office—Anti Illegal Drugs and Special Operation Task Group arrested Pong Jung, 19; Chen Hu Min, 27 and Eugene Chong, 24, during a raid at 325 Tamarind Drive around 1:15 am.
The police initially confiscated 25 kilos of shabu from the suspects. They searched the two-story residence and discovered a laboratory where they found another 30 kilos and equipment used in manufacturing the prohibited substance.
“The syndicate is using private subdivision like this to conceal their operation but with the help of concerned citizens and community leaders, we were able to catch them,” said NCRPO director Joel Pagdilao.
He added that members of the National Police -Crime Laboratory were conducting an inventory at the scene as of press time.
The suspects are now detained at the NCRPO general headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City. They will be charged with violation of selling and manufacturing dangerous drugs under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Pagdilao said the NCRPO Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit has been consistent with their performance in busting the illegal drugs in Metro Manila in line with the government’s Oplan Lambat Sibat program.
During the first four months of the year, the NCRPO arrested 55 suspected drug pushers and siezed P400 million worth of prohibited substance.
Pagdilao said from January to April 24, his men have confiscated 80.384 kilograms of shabu amounting to 401,744,400.00 (401.74M).
Recently, the team conducted buy-bust operation at Morato Avenue corner Timog Avenue, Barangay Triangle, Quezon City which resulted in the arrest of seven suspects and seizure of 20 kilos of shabu worth P100 million.
Early last month, the policemen also arrested three suspected drug traffickers and seized five kilos of in a buy-bust operation in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The suspects were identified as Akmad Hassan Bagal, Halil Sulaiman Said and Kamar Bayantol Marham.
Last March, the team also nabbed a Chinese national and seized 10 kilos of shabu worth P10 million, also during a buy-bust operation in San Juan City. The suspect — Jinfa Wang, 38, a native of Fujian, China, was arrested in front of a fast food restaurant at Virra Mall in Greenhills.