CHITO CHAVEZ

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized more than P1.7 billion worth of shabu and arrested two alleged drug traders in two operations in Quezon City and Cavite yesterday.

PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva said the buy-bust operation in Quezon City resulted in the arrest of suspected big-time Chinese drug trafficker identified as Cai Jia Zhu, 33.

Zhu was arrested at around 10:30 a.m. on Maria Clara St., Barangay Lourdes, near the Philippine Orthopedic Hospital.

The PDEA agents seized from the suspect more or less 40 kilos of shabu valued at P272 million, initial reports revealed.

Also confiscated from the suspect were a blue green Toyota Corolla, driver’s license, one cellular phone, and genuine P1,000 bill.

An hour later, PDEA agents, together with other law enforcement units, seized some 220 kilos of suspected shabu worth around P1.496 billion in an operation at Avida Residences Santa Catalina on Molino-Paliparan Road in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

One Hai Lin, 41, was arrested during the operation.

 Aside from shabu, the agents also seized from the suspect several mobile phones, his vaccination card, and driver’s license.

Both Zhu and Hai will be charged for violation of Article II of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the PDEA said.