MANILA (UPDATE) —Police and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized more than 200 kilos of suspected shabu in two anti-drug operations in Bacoor and Imus cities in Cavite Thursday night.
The amount of drugs was estimated to be worth more than P1.5 billion.
Two men with suspected links to a Chinese drug syndicate were killed in the operation at a subdivision in Molino III, Bacoor.
The target of the operation, Basher Bangon, 59, from Cagayan de Oro City, was identified as a "top level drug personality". The companion was identified as Danilo Untavar, 51.
Hundreds of Chinese-labeled packs of suspected shabu estimated at 181 kilos or about P1.23 billion worth were seized at the site.
According to PDEA Calabarzon director Juvenal Azurin, the site was used to stock drugs from the Golden Triangle Syndicate.
They also said this was connected allegedly to the drugs confiscated in Zambales last Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a married couple aged 45 and 47 was arrested in the operation in Bahayang Pag-Asa, Barangay Magdalo, Imus.
Authorities confiscated dozens of similarly packed shabu valued at more than P326 million.
Authorities said those who were killed in the operation and those arrested were from the same group.
The male suspect, however, denied allegations. He said he was hired to drive a vehicle, which he was allowed to take home, and he did not know there were illegal drugs inside the boxes.
This came 2 days after a succession of PDEA-led anti-drug operations in Candelaria town, Zambales, where 4 alleged Chinese drug dealers died in an encounter and 3 other Chinese men were arrested, one of them a man considered one of the top shabu importers based in the Philippines.
About 580 kilos or more than P3.9 billion worth of shabu were seized in the 2 operations.
Cavite, PDEA, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Cavite drug ops, illegal drugs, war on drugs, Sakto, Teleradyo