P1B worth of shabu seized, ‘drug kingpin,’ cohort nabbed in Valenzuela

Authorities confiscated P1 billion worth of shabu and arrested an alleged drug kingpin and his cohort in an operation in Valenzuela City on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the PNP said its personnel and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents conducted a joint buy-bust operation in Barangay Karuhatan.

Suspects identified as Tianzhu Lyu, 32 years old, of Fujian, China, and Meliza Villanueva, 37, of Concepcion, Tarlac, were arrested in the operation.

More or less 160 kilos of suspected shabu worth P1.088 billion were seized. Also confiscated from the suspects were four smartphones, a basic analog phone, a weighing scale, assorted identification cards, and a bundle of documents, the PNP said.

According to the police, the two suspects are well-known drug dealers in the areas of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspects.

“The PNP vows to sustain with vigor anti-illegal drug police operations with a greater focus on high-value targets engaged in trafficking and distribution of illegal drugs, of course, in coordination with PDEA, to help boost the government’s campaign for criminal justice,”  PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos said.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA News