Three kilos of suspected shabu, worth P20.4 million, and placed in tea bags, were seized from two inbound passengers at the Bredco Port in Bacolod City, at around 12:50 this afternoon, Jan. 24.
Suspects Aslanie Disomangcop Usman and Jalanie Mohammad Ambulo, both residents of Bacolod City, were nabbed by combined forces of the Philippine Coast Guard-Negros Occidental, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bacolod City Police Office, and the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, in a random inspection at the TriStar roll-on, roll off vessel.
PCG Negros Occidental investigation showed that Usman and Ambulo came from Metro Manila and boarded a Ro-Ro vessel from Batangas to Caticlan, Aklan. They then traveled by land and boarded a Bacolod-bound ship from Dumangas in Iloilo.
P/Col. Joseph Thomas Martir, BCPO director, said the random port inspection by members of various law enforcement agencies led to the discovery of the suspected shabu sealed in tea bags and wrapped in masking tape.
It was the drug-sniffing dogs of PCG and PDEA that discovered the shabu inside the sedan vehicle of the suspects, Police Station 2 chief, P/Capt. Paul Vincent Pendon, said.
The police also seized a white Toyota Corolla Altis, two Samsung cellular phones, a driver’s license, and a PhilHealth card.
Both suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs of 2002.
They are presently under the custody of the PDEA-Negros Occidental, for further investigation. | GB