Lifters seized in Cavite contained a ton of shabu worth P7-B —PDEA

A ton of shabu worth P7 billion has slipped past the authorities as it was unloaded from four lifting equipment that agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency found in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite recently.

According to Emil Sumangil's report on "Balitanghali", the lifters seized in Cavite came into the country with the lifters that yielded P4.3 billion worth of shabu at the Manila International Container Port on Tuesday.

PDEA raided the warehouse in Barangay F. Reyes after a caretaker informed authorities about the lifters that arrived on June 14.

The lifters had reportedly been emptied by the time PDEA operatives got to the warehouse.

In the ongoing investigation, no residue of shabu had been found on the lifters but K-9 units detected traces of the illegal drug.

Director General Aaron Aquino said PDEA had identified 19 persons of interest, including 11 Chinese citizens.

"Karamihan po rito ay identified na po natin at tinutugis na po natin sila at nagko-conduct kami ng backtrack investigation para malaman pa po kung ano talaga po ang nangyari bakit naipuslit itong ganitong kalaking ilegal na droga sa ating port," Aquoino said.

Citing documents obtained by PDEA, Aquino revealed the shipment came from Taiwan.

"Well, sa tingin po namin, ito ay being operated by Chinese triad or dito po sa Golden Triangle syndicate. Actually po, itong ilegal na droga ay galing po sa Taiwan, sa province of China," he added.

In a succeeding report on "24 Oras",  the PDEA said that security cameras recorded how suspects took the lifters away on two cars and a container truck last July 13.

"They have cohorts here in the Philippines, both Fil-Chi and Filipinos. Malaking grupo ito. May mga CCTV kami. We have identified their vehicles, plate numbers. In due time, hopefully, madale namin 'yung grupo," Aquino said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has agreed to join search efforts.

"Hindi ko magagarantiya na makuha pa natin ang droga pero tayo po sa PNP ay puspusan ang paghahanap," Police Chief Superintendent Albert Ferro, chief of the PNP-Anti-illegal Drugs Group.

Aside from the actual consignee, authorities were also lookign for an unnamed Customs agent who allegedly helped in smuggling the contraband.

"Kung sinuman ang nag-facilitate sa Bureau of Customs, bakit nailabas ito? Dapat makulong 'yon," Aquino said.

Meanwhile, the PDEA is determined to file charges against a traffic enforcer in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro identified as Vedastik Baraquel for the shabu seized Tuesday.

Baraquel was the consignee for the initial shipment of two lifters containing shabu worth P4.3-billion, but the suspect claimed he only negotiated with a friend without knowing it contained illegal drugs. — Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News