Law enforcement operatives confiscated some P420M worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, in Lipa City, Batangas on Christmas Day.
A joint team from the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (PNP-AIDSOTF) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) swooped down on LPL Ranch in Brgy. Inosluban, Lipa City by virtue of a search warrant issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. The operation was supported by the US-DEA, Anti-Kidnapping Group, Intelligence Service Group-Philippine Army and Police Regional Office 4A.
Three suspects in possession of around 84 kilos of shabu in vacuum-sealed latex/plastic bags were arrested. The three were identified as Gary Tan, the farm manager; and Argay Argenos and Rochelle Argenos, both caretakers. The three will be charged with illegal possession of dangerous drugs or Section 11 of the RA 9165 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and PD 1866.
Also recovered during the raid resulted were a caliber .45 and a 12-gauge shotgun with ammunition.
Charges will also be filed against Jorge Torres who is presently out of the country and believed to be in the US. Cases will also be filed against two Mexican nationals alias “Jaime” and alias “Joey”, both members of the Mexican Sinaloa Drug Cartel.
The operation was a result of a three-month case building and undercover operations that revealed the location of the drugs.
Authorities are still investigating how the drugs entered the country. It is believed that Chinese drug operators are working together with the Mexican drug cartel in distributing shabu in the country. Mexican drug cartels are known for their sophisticated means of smuggling illegal substances and in their brutality in drug-related violence.
