AUTHORITIES have confiscated an estimated P183.6 million worth of suspected shabu (crystal meth) in a sting operation in Quezon City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Thursday.
The significant haul was allegedly concealed within cans of tomato sauce, a clever but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to disguise the illicit substance. A confidential informant tipped off the authorities, leading to the initiation of the operation, which involved a poseur buyer.
The buy-bust operation took place on Wednesday afternoon at a bodega located in Barangay Bago Bantay. According to PNP Drug Enforcement Group spokesperson Lt. Marlon Sy, the plan was to purchase one kilogram of suspected shabu from a dealer.
The suspect, identified by the alias “Clever” and reportedly 21 years old, was allegedly renting the bodega where the transaction was to occur. The use of tomato sauce cans as a means of concealment highlights the innovative, albeit illicit, methods employed by drug syndicates to transport and distribute their contraband.
During the transaction, the suspect reportedly realized that the money provided by the poseur buyer was boodle money and that the buyer was a police officer. This led to an immediate attempt to flee the scene.
While operatives were unable to apprehend “Clever” at the time of the operation, follow-up operations are currently underway to track down the suspect. Authorities recovered a substantial amount of suspected shabu, totaling 27,000 grams, which has since been turned over to the PNP Forensic Group for laboratory examination.
Lt. Sy suggested that the apprehended suspect may not be the mastermind behind the operation, stating, “It’s possible there is a larger figure at play here. The financier or the real seller, of course, wouldn’t go out and sell the drugs themselves.”
