P81.6 million shabu seized in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — Anti-narcotics officers confiscated around 12 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with a street value of P81.6 million in Quezon City yesterday.

The illegal drugs were seized from Kamlum Deraging, 34, a resident of Quiapo in Manila, whom police described as one of the notorious distributors of illegal drugs in Metro Manila.

Deragin was arrested in a sting at the corner of Examiner street and Quezon Avenue in Barangay West Triangle at around 4:45 p.m., according to a police report.

Police said Deragin negotiated a deal with an undercover police officer for a pack of shabu in return for P1 million.

Lawmen are looking for Deragin’s companion, who escaped during the drug bust.

Apart from Metro Manila, Deragin also allegedly operates in Central Luzon and Calabarzon. He is being held on charges of drug trafficking.

Also in Quezon City, Manuel Marano, 32, was arrested in Barangay Tandang Sora at around 2:30 p.m. on Monday in a sting that yielded 30 grams of shabu valued at P204,000.

Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad said yesterday over P1.6 million worth of illegal drugs were seized during a two-day operation.

He said the Northern Police District confiscated 135 grams of shabu with a street value of P918,000 from Regina Joan Cruz, 40; Jhunrey Lomonggo, 30, and Christian Salinel, 21, during a sting in Caloocan on Sunday.

Caloocan police chief Col. Samuel Mina said the drug bust was staged after a week-long surveillance following a tip from an informant.

Also on Sunday, the Southern Police District and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested Irene Igban, Paul Reyes and a certain “Joenorie” in a drug bust that yielded P521,560 worth of shabu. – Neil Jayson Servallosa