Authorities seized a shipment of suspected shabu worth at least P12 billion that was in transit in Infanta, Quezon early Tuesday.
According to a report from the Quezon Provincial Police, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents and Infanta police blocked three white vans at a checkpoint along the national highway in Barangay Comon around 4 a.m.
Several blocks of alleged high-value shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride were recovered in sealed sacks with Chinese markings, while 10 men inside the vans were arrested.
The authorities said 600 Chinese tea bags were used to contain the contraband, which weighed 1.5 metric tons in total.
NBI special agent Omar Orille said the illegal drugs arrived from Alabat Island, Quezon, and were transported by a yacht and a boat.
“It started on Alabat Island, then they sailed toward Polilio Island, between Polilio Island and Balesin. That’s where they got the drugs, then they sailed towards Infanta,” Orille told reporters in an ABS-CBN report.
“Based on the information provided to us, we were able to zero in on what their route would be and we were able to set up a checkpoint,” NBI anti-narcotics task force chief Jonathan Galicia added.
The suspects were involved in an international operation based on their equipment, NBI director Eric Distor said.
“They have a GPS tracker and satellite phone, this is a big-time operation… after forensic (examination), we will know who they were calling,” said Distor.
The seized drugs will be sent to the NBI’s main office in Manila for examination, and the suspects will undergo inquest proceedings on Wednesday, he said.
