PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and PNP operatives seized 40 kilos of shabu worth P272 million in Batangas City last Tuesday afternoon.
A drug courier, identified only as alias Datubon, a resident of Cotabato City, was arrested during the operation, PDEA said in a statement.
Authorities intercepted a sports utility vehicle, driven by Datubon, during an interdiction operation at the Port of Batangas in Barangay Sta. Clara at around 5:30 p.m., PDEA said.
Found inside the vehicle were transparent plastic bags containing the contraband.
Datubon is facing charges for violation of Section 5 (transportation of dangerous drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
If found guilty, Datubon faces a possible penalty of life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million.
PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez said interdiction operations will be intensified as part of the government’s continuing fight against illegal drugs.
“We need to protect our seaports from becoming transit and dropping points for large volumes of illegal drugs,” said Nerez.
“Interdiction operations will be regularly conducted to seal off our waters from drug trafficking,”added Nerez.
