DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/15 August) – Some P2 million worth of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride was seized from a suspected drug courier Wednesday, police said.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency XI identified the suspect as Roel G. Reas, who is said to have received a package containing the illegal drug that was sent through a courier service in neighboring Panabo City.
Reas is now detained at the Davao City Police Office.
PDEA XI regional director Emerson Rosales said the suspect claimed the package around 4pm Wednesday.
He said they received intelligence information from Manila that a package was to arrive in Panabo. This was verified by K9 units stationed at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao.
The shabu weighed around 200 grams and was placed in footwear delivered through a courier that PDEA refused to name.
Rosales said the price of the substance ranges from P7,500 to P9,000 per gram.
PDEA was still verifying the identity of a certain Mariama E. Antis of Baliwasan, Tabuk, Zamboanga City as the supposed shipper of the package.
“This is the first time we intercepted a drug package via courier service,” Rosales said, citing it was a new modus operandi.
He added they have received reports that syndicates are resorting to courier services to transport illegal drugs.
Senior Inspector Frederick Deles of the Panabo Police Station said Reas has been on the Philippine National Police and PDEA watchlist.
Rosales meanwhile said the employees of the courier service will be investigated to see if they were involved.
The agency was preparing the charges against Reas for violating of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2012.
Police also confiscated Reas’ motorcycle and sidecar unit. (MindaNews)