The raiders recovered an undetermined amount of shabu from the bedroom of suspect, Youn Man Young, 60, allegedly a member of a criminal syndicate in his country.
AIDSOTF commander Director Marcelo Ele Jr. ordered a massive manhunt against Youn, who could be hiding in a Korean community.
Ele also coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and airport officials to prevent the suspect from leaving the country.
Youn, who owns a karaoke bar in Alabang, Zapote, was placed under surveillance following a tip from an asset that he was involved in big-time drug peddling.
A team headed by Superintendent Melecio Buslig, of the Special Operations Unit 1 traced the whereabouts of Youn, and applied for a search warrant from the sala of Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr., of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24.
Raiders conducted the operation after police assets confirmed that illegal drugs were present at the suspect’s home in BF Homes Subdivision, Las Pinas City.
Accompanied by barangay officials Bernabe Manzala and Danilo Flores, Buslig served Eugenio’s warrant, showing it to Youn’s Filipina wife at about 11:55 a.m.
After a thorough search in the presence of Youn’s wife and barangay officials, the raiders retrieved two sachets and a film canister containing shabu at the master’s bedroom.
"We missed his shabu shipment," said Buslig.
He said the recovered shabu may have been only for Youn’s personal consumption. "Pang-gamit lang niya ang nakuha namin."
He said Youn’s KTV bar caters only to visiting Korean nationals.
"Makakapasok lang ang mga Pinoy kung guest sila ng Koreano," he pointed out.
Before the AIDSOTF raiders arrived, Youn’s wife claimed the suspect was fetched by his fellow Korean to play golf.
"Panay Koreano lang daw ang kausap ng asawa niya. Sinundo daw ito ng maaga pa para maglaro ng golf," Buslig said, adding that the wife denied that her husband was involved in drug pushing.
Ele said the evidence was forwarded by the AIDSOTF raiders to the crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for examination.
The AIDSOTF commander ordered the filing of necessary charges against Youn before the proper court. — Non Alquitran