P1.2-M CRYSTAL METH: ‘Shabu’ stashed in chocolate packs

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Police on Saturday seized more or less P1.2 million worth of suspected shabu or crystal meth in separate operations here.

Some P650,000 worth of suspected shabu were intercepted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Roxas City Police Station from a package courier here.

The illegal drugs were placed in two packs of chocolate.

According to Police Master Sergeant Ramil Arcangeles, Roxas City police spokesperson, said they received information that a shabu-laden package will arrive.

The police then coordinated with PDEA after confirming the arrival of the contraband.

With help from the PDEA K9 sniffing dogs, police traced and opened the package and saw the suspected shabu inside the chocolate packets. The illegal drugs weighed 50 grams and valued at P650,000.

Arcangeles said the recipient of the package was in their watch list of suspected drug peddlers.

The police and the PDEA are still investigating the origin of the package and the consignee.

A few minutes after the interception of the illegal drug, the Roxas City police arrested Feb Almia, 35, and Alfred “Wep-Wep” Jaguio, 43, of Brgy. Tanque here, in a drug buy-bust operation at Brgy. Cagay.

Recovered from the suspects were five sachets of suspected shabu, P20,000 boodle or fake money, a motorcycle, a cellphone, and a coin purse.

The police estimated the total value of the seized drugs at P650,000.

Almia and Jaguio are detained at the police station while charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002) were filed against them Monday afternoon.