Taiwanese arrested over 140-M shabu
A Taiwanese was arrested after police found from his hotel room an estimated 140 million worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) and about 20,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition in Binondo, Manila, Friday.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspect as Chang Chin Haw, 31, a native of Kao Hsiung, Taiwan, and temporarily billeted in a hotel on T. Mapua Street, Binondo.
His hotel room yielded seven plastic packs of suspected shabu with a total weight of six kilos and an estimated street value of 140 million; 388 pieces of sealed plastic packs
containing various chemicals suspected to be ingredients for making illegal drugs; and 20,000 rounds of caliber 9mm ammunition.
Eleazar said the suspect has been the subject of a surveillance operation by the Manila Police District (MPD)'s District Police Intelligence Operation Unit (DPIOU) for several weeks already after they received information that he was allegedly involved in arms smuggling.
Citing a report from the MPD, Eleazar said the suspect had just left the premises of the hotel around 9 a.m. when he sensed he was being followed by cops.
The suspect ran back to the hotel and a brief chase followed until operating troops from the MPD-DPIOU, Binondo Police Station (PS-11), and Sampaloc Police Station (PS-4) managed to locate him at Room 506.
Police then searched the suspect's hotel room where they found the illegal drugs and the other items.
“‘Yung MPD may information naitong foreigner ay nagkakaroon ng mga transaction, bumibili ng bala at baril para i-smuggle out (The MPD receives information that this foreigner has been making transactions, buying ammunition and guns to smuggle out [of the country]),” Eleazar said while noting that the target location of the smuggled arms will be the subject of a follow-up investigation.
“Some of the drugs ay maaaring for distribution dito sa loob kaya malaking achievement ito for the MPD (Some of the drugs may possibly be distributed inside [the country] so this is a big achievement for the MPD),” he added.
Also part of the continuing investigation, according to the Metro Manila police chief, is to determine if the suspect is involved in an organized drug syndicate operating in Manila and, possibly, other adjacent provinces.
“Hindi siya marunong mag-English o Tagalog so aalamin natin kung sino ang mga kasamahan niya (He does not know how to speak in English or Tagalog so we will determine who his possible cohorts are),” Eleazar said.
He also said the MPD will coordinate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine National Police (PNP)'s Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) to determine whether the suspected drugs were made locally or internationally.
However, Eleazar said: “Sa tingin natin puro smuggled in 'yung drugs but we have to check (We think the drugs were smuggled in but we have to check.).”
The suspect was taken to the MPD headquarters for inquest proceedings while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and Republic Act 10591 for illegal possession of ammunition will be filed against him.
Meanwhile, the seized chemicals were sent to the PNP Crime Laboratory for tests.