PDEA chief: Seized P1.1-B shabu came from Golden Triangle Region

The P1.1 billion worth of shabu seized in Muntinlupa City's  Ayala Alabang Village may have come from the so-called Golden Triangle Region, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Wednesday.

PDEA agents confiscated at least 149 kilograms of suspected shabu packed inside tea bags and cans of biscuits on Tuesday night in a residence-turned-drug-lab in the exclusive subdivision.

Known as illegal drugs trade hub, the Golden Triangle is a region crisscrossing the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, PDEA chief Director General Aaron Aquino said there were instances before that anti-drug operations in the Mindanao region yielded illegal drugs hidden in the same packaging method.

"Mayroon na rin tayong seizures ng mga ganitong same packaging somewhere sa Mindanao. Kaya naging assessment namin dito, dumaan ito sa coastline eh. Shipside smuggling ito na galing sa Golden Triangle Region." 

"Kasi ito 'yung signature ng Golden Triangle Region na nagkaroon din ng mga seizures sa ibang bansa katulad ng Malaysia, Vietnam, Mynamar, ganoon din. Malaki ang possibility na galing sa Golden Triangle Region itong mga shabu na ito," he added.

Aquino clarified that the seized shabu was 166 kilograms.

Authorities arrested four suspects identified as Emmanuel Pascual, 79; Chia Kian Kok, 43; Wuyi, 19 and Go Kei Kei, 40, during the operation.

Aquino said the house was owned by a certain Josephine Ong, adding that PDEA is studying if it will also file a case against Ong.

"Tinitingnan namin kung isasama namin siya sa pag-file ng kaso kasi nakausap ko 'yung mga village association, pinapatawag namin at iimbestigahan 'yung may-ari..." Aquino said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News