Authorities seized 160 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” worth an estimated P1 billion and arrested two suspects in a buy-bust in Valenzuela City on Tuesday.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Dir. Gen. undersecretary Wilkins Villanueva, identified the two arrested suspects as Tianzhu Lyu, of Fujian China, and his female companion Meliza Villanueva.
Lyu is an alleged drug kingpin, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
In a statement, the PNP said its personnel and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents conducted a joint buy-bust operation in Barangay Karuhatan.
The PNP also said the two suspects are well-known drug dealers in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspects.
“The PNP vows to sustain with vigor anti-illegal drug police operations with a greater focus on high-value targets engaged in trafficking and distribution of illegal drugs, of course, in coordination with PDEA, to help boost the government’s campaign for criminal justice,” PNP Chief Police General Dionardo Carlos said.
The PNP said it was around 3:30 p.m., when the combined forces of PDEA, PNP, AFP and NICA conducted the said operation.
The suspects immediately fell into the trap of the operatives, where poseur buyers were able to buy shabu from them.
After exchanging the ordered item from the suspects and marked money from the pretending buyer, signaling that the operation was successful, it was there the two were quickly arrested by the backup operatives.
According to Villanueva, the seizure of the said drugs was a result of a series of consecutive anti-drug operations in Cavite, Bulacan, Cebu and Negros Occidental where 231.2 kilos of shabu with a street value of P1.57 billion were also seized.