Safety deposit box yields ₱5.8-M drugs

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency yesterday seized 2,750 pieces of ecstasy and 200 grams of cocaine with an estimated value of ₱5.73 million stashed in the safety deposit box of a posh hotel in Taguig.

Also seized was 14 pieces of transparent plastic cartridge of suspected dangerous drugs.

PDEA spokesman Derrick Arnold Carreon said the operation which was conducted at around midnight was carried out through a search warrant issued by Judge Rosanna Fe Romero- Maglaya of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 88 against businessman Domingo Tanyao Uy Jr. of Balete Drive in Quezon City.

Uy, 44, was arrested last May 21 by PDEA and police after he allegedly yielded some ₱8.5-million worth of illegal drugs that include ecstasy inside his rented room.

Police Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, director of the National Capital Region Police Office, said Uy was arrested after hotel staff reported cash money and illegal drugs that were seen while a team of housekeeping was cleaning the room.

Yesterday’s operation was conducted by the PDEA National Capital Region Southern District Office led by Agent Joel Villorente in coordination with the Taguig police.

Uy allegedly rented the safety deposit box outside his room to deposit the illegal drugs.

He is facing charges for violation of Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9165

Police and PDEA appealed to all hotel personnel to alert law enforcement authorities if any suspicious personalities linked to lawless activities particularly illegal drugs are within their premises.