MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested three Chinese in a drug sting that started in Binondo, Manila and ended in Cavite, resulting in the confiscation of some 37 kilos of shabu worth P296 million Tuesday night.
Yang Mou Yu alias Heng, 35; his driver Cai Chun Yuan alias Chua, 45; and Yu Jian Ye, 40, belong to a major drug syndicate operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, according to Senior Superintendent Napoleon Taas, head of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF).
Taas said the trio had been under police surveillance for more than six months prior to their arrest.
“We have been shadowing them for a long period of time until we were able to identify the areas where they operate. We decided to strike when we thought that we have them cornered,†he said.
Superintendent Ismael Fajardo, head of the AIDSOTF’s Special Operations Unit 3, said a confidential agent had arranged a deal with the suspects for the purchase of a kilo of shabu for P2.2 million.
Yang and Cai were nabbed shortly after they handed over the shabu to a poseur buyer in a Toyota Camry along Muelle de Binondo street at around 9 p.m.
Fajardo said a search of the suspects’ car yielded another kilo of the illegal stuff.
Yu, who was in another car, sped off toward Cavite, prompting Fajardo and his men to gave chase.
The AIDSOTF chief then called up the Cavite police and sought assistance.
Joint elements of AIDSOTF and the Cavite police eventually caught up with Yu in Trece Martirez City at 12:30 a.m. yesterday.
Taas said a search of the suspect’s vehicle yielded 20 kilos more of shabu.
Prior to this, AIDSOTF agents served a search warrant issued by Judge Fernando Sagun Jr. at the residence of Yang on Dasmariñas street, Binondo where they seized 14.7 kilos of shabu, a weighing scale, a sealer and other drug paraphernalia.
The suspects remained tightlipped about their illegal drug operation despite the presence of a Chinese interpreter, Taas said.
“They appeared to be old timers in the illegal drug trade. They refused to talk despite the prodding of our interpreter,†he said.
Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon police director, said the three suspects are being held at the AIDSOTF headquarters in Camp Crame pending the filing of charges against them. –With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rey Galupo, Ed Amoroso