P30 million kush seized in Las Piñas raid

MANILA, Philippines — A man said to be an American was apprehended for alleged possession of P30 million worth of kush, a high-grade variant of marijuana, during a raid on a house in Las Piñas City yesterday.

Paul Sohn, alias Danny Lim, was arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at a house along Silicone street in Barangay Pilar at around 9 a.m.

PDEA National Capital Region director Gil Pabilona said the house was being used as a facility in manufacturing high-grade kush.

Pabilona said around 30 kilos of kush, a more potent and expensive variety of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and equipment used in cultivating the illegal drug were seized during the raid.

Sohn failed to present his American passport during his arrest, Pabilona said.

The PDEA official said they would check with the US embassy if Sohn is an American citizen.

Backpack yields P.2-M weed

In Quezon City, security personnel of Araneta Center in Cubao turned over P200,000 worth of marijuana to police on Saturday.

The illegal drugs were found in a backpack thrown into a trashcan at the Araneta Cubao Central Business District. 

A security guard told police that he was doing his rounds when he saw the backpack in a trash bin.

When he checked the bag, he saw a plastic brick of marijuana leaves, prompting him to seek police assistance.

Superintendent Giovanni Hycenth Caliao said an estimated two kilos of marijuana were turned over to police.

More drug suspects fall

Twenty-four persons were arrested in separate drug stings in Quezon City over the weekend.

The suspects were collared in Barangays Camp Aguinaldo, UP Campus, Bagumbayan, Tatalon, Doña Imelda, Botocan, Pansol, Payatas, Pasong Tamo, Sauyo and Maharlika. 

In eastern Metro Manila, three persons were nabbed in anti-narcotics operations.

Jay Bernales, 34, was arrested in a sting along Parada street in Barangay Sta. Lucia in San Juan.

Bernales allegedly yielded six sachets of dried marijuana leaves and P500 in marked money.

Senior Superintendent Dindo Reyes, San Juan police chief, said Bernales was on the drug watchlist.

Bernales surrendered to authorities during Oplan Tokhang but allegedly returned to his old ways.

Michael Apolinar, 36, was nabbed during a drug sting in Barangay Parang, Marikina.

Police said they recovered five sachets of shabu and P500 in marked money from Apolinar.

Drug suspect Erick Geronimo, 27, was collared after he evaded a police checkpoint along Alfonso street in Barangay Rosario, Pasig City.

Geronimo was on a motorcycle without a license plate when he drove past the checkpoint.

The suspect was nabbed after a brief chase.

When frisked, Geronimo allegedly yielded marijuana.

Two more drug suspects, including a 15-year-old boy, were arrested in Makati and Taguig.

Police said the teenager was nabbed for trespassing at a property along H. Santos street in Barangay Tejeros, Makati.

When frisked, the boy allegedly yielded a sachet of shabu and a lighter.

Franklin Bernardo Dubouzet was collared for alleged possession of P10,000 worth of shabu in Barangay Western Bicutan in Taguig.– With Non Alquitran, Ghio Ong