2 Africans yield P68 million shabu

MANILA, Philippines — Two Africans were apprehended yesterday by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during a sting in Quezon City that yielded an estimated P68 million worth of shabu.

Around 10 kilos of shabu were confiscated from Nigerian Lawrence Ikegwuruka, 27, and Malagasy national Michella Augustine, 23, according to PDEA chief Aaron Aquino.

Aquino said the suspects were arrested along Don A. Roces Avenue in Barangay Paligsahan at around 9:30 a.m.

PDEA agents nabbed the duo after they allegedly sold shabu to an operative who posed as a buyer.

Aquino said Ikegwuruka and Augustine have been under surveillance for the past  months amid reports that they were trafficking prohibited narcotics.

An investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of their drug operations, the PDEA chief said.

Police recovered at least P408,000 worth of shabu from five suspects during anti-narcotics operations in Quezon City in the past two days.

City police chief Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo said three of the suspects were nabbed in Barangay Pasong Tamo.

Andrew Durado, 41; David Morao, 20, and Rojohn Makiramdam, 22, allegedly yielded around 35 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P238,000.

In Barangay Old Balara, police said they confiscated P102,000 worth of shabu from Sarwa Abas, 25.

Michael Bernal, 36, was arrested for alleged possession of 10 grams of shabu during a separate sting in the barangay.

In Las Piñas, Eric Davin was collared by police for allegedly pushing drugs. – With Neil Jayson Servallos, Ralph Edwin Villanueva