US gov’t intel helped PDEA seize P34-M shabu in Cavite, says embassy

PDEA Director Aaron Aquino (right) presents to the media P34 million worth of crystal meth (shabu) believed to be shipped into the Philippines by the powerful Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel. JHOANNA BALLARAN/INQUIRER.net

Cooperation between United States’ Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) operatives and Philippine authorities has led to the arrests of two drug suspects packing P34 million worth of shabu suspected to be from a Mexican drug cartel.

To recall, agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized about P34 million worth of shabu in Trece Martires, Cavite on January 25, Thursday.

The drugs were suspected to be smuggled by the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel from California into the country, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said.

READ: P34-M shabu suspected to be from Mexican drug cartel seized in Cavite

According to the US Embassy, the HSI provided the PDEA and the BOC an intelligence report that two parcels of crystal methamphetamine were being shipped to the country.

“With the shipping and locator information, PDEA intercepted the parcels and seized approximately six kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, with an estimated value of P34 million,” the US Embassy said in a statement.

The PDEA then launched a controlled delivery operation in Cavite and arrested the two suspects, who were Philippine citizens, for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. /je