3 foreigners nabbed in P100-M ‘shabu’ bust

MANILA, Philippines—Police on Sunday arrested two Taiwanese men and a Chinese in a sting operation in San Juan City that netted illegal drugs worth more than P100 million, officials said.

The three were caught selling more than 20 kilograms of the banned stimulant crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride, more commonly known as “ice” or “shabu,” to an undercover agent, police said. Police also found drugs in the suspects’ vehicle.

“We believe they are selling two kinds of shabu, one priced lower and one with a higher price imported from another country,” said the head of the illegal drugs task force, Supt. Ismael Fajardo.

He said the bogus transaction took place at a car park of Cardinal Santos Hospital and agents pounced on the trio after marked money changed hands. The suspects were caught with 20 kilos of shabu that had a total street value of P100 million, he said.

“There were no gunshots fired. There was only a running pursuit,” Fajardo said.

The Philippines is stepping up its fight against drug traffickers after concerns the country’s vast shoreline made it a favorite shipment point for illegal drugs. AFP and Dona Z. Pazzibugan