2 dead in P150 million drug bust in Pasig

MANILA, Philippines — Two alleged drug traffickers were shot dead during a sting that yielded an estimated P150 million worth of shabu in Pasig City over the weekend, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

Arthur Abdul and his unidentified cohort were killed after they allegedly engaged police in a shootout along Axis Road in Barangay Kalawaan on Sunday night, PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) chief Brig. Gen. Remus Medina said.

According to Medina, the suspects were said to be known drug distributors of Michael Lucas Abdul, who was arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in Dasmariñas, Cavite two weeks ago.

The duo reportedy sourced their drug supply from a suspect known only as alias “Bating,” whom police said was offering warehousing services to a Chinese drug trafficker.

Medina said the suspects were allegedly responsible for distributing drugs in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

“The suspects are cohorts of one of the target drug personalities of Coplan Chain Knuckle,” he said.

Police said they recovered around 22 kilos of shabu valued at P149.6 million, a .45-caliber handgun, a .380-caliber pistol and a gray Nissan Sentra with license plate XJG-404, which the suspects reportedly used in their drug trade.

The pieces of evidence were brought to the DEG special operation unit’s Metro Manila office for documentation and proper disposition.