P22-M shabu, marijuana bought with Bitcoin seized

MANILA, Philippines — At least eight kilograms of shabu with an estimated street value of P20 million and two plastic containers of high-grade marijuana worth P2 million were confiscated from a gang believed to have sourced its supply from the Sinaloa drug cartel.

The group, which is allegedly led by Lemar Garzon, paid for the drugs with cryptocurrency, according to Senior Inspector Robert Bunayog, Northern Police District special operations unit chief.

“Through Bitcoin, the transaction would be discreet because it converts the deposit to the currency of their supplier abroad,” Bunayog said.

Police raided the drug den in Barangay Pagala in Baliwag, Bulacan after an anti-drug operative bought a kilo of shabu in Barangay 12, Caloocan from Eduardo Tan, the group’s alleged hitman, at around 3 a.m. on Sunday. 

Aside from Garzon, alleged drug ring members Richard Romoquilo, Jayson Estrada, Aries Taglada, Renz Geron and Edward Cruz were arrested.

Police said an M16 rifle, a submachine gun, a 9mm and two caliber .45 pistols, various types of ammunition and a weighing scale were recovered from the suspects.  

2 drug suspects slain

Meanwhile, in Pangasinan, businessman and drug surrenderee Darwin Lamsen, 36, was about to deliver hollow blocks at the house of his client in Sitio Anlavo, Barangay Coliling in San Carlos on Sunday when he was shot by unidentified men. 

Lamsen was declared dead on arrival at the Blessed Family Doctors General Hospital. 

Police said the victim surrendered under Oplan Tokhang in 2016.

“High-value” drug pusher Eric Loquido, an alleged leader of a drug ring operating in Laguna, was shot in front of a computer shop in Barangay Turbina, Calamba before dawn yesterday.

In Marawi, police and military operatives have launched a manhunt for Marco Cabugatan who escaped during a sting at the Mindanao State University on Thursday.

Cabugatan reportedly sold shabu worth P1 million to operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and police who posed as buyers.  

Three other drug suspects were arrested in San Rafael and Pulilan in Bulacan. They reportedly yielded  eight sachets of  shabu and marked money. – With Eva Visperas, Ed Amoroso, John Unson, Ramon Efren Lazaro