Nigerian, Pinay held for P3.9 million shabu

MANILA, Philippines — A Nigerian man and a Filipina were arrested for allegedly receiving P3.9 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in a “controlled delivery operation” in Las Piñas on Thursday night.

Christian Ubatuegwu, 42, and Juliet Canubida, 54, received a parcel from Laos containing 588 grams of shabu, according to separate statements from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The BOC said it staged the operation with the help of PDEA and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group after finding the packets of shabu hidden in an electric steam sterilizer and dryer.

The suspects are being held at the PDEA’s detention facility on charges of violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2022, and RA 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. The seized pieces of evidence were brought to PDEA’s Laboratory Service office in Quezon City.— Neil Jayson Servallos