More than P80 million worth of suspected illegal drugs were seized by members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Cubao Station (PS 7) from a couple in Quezon City early Wednesday morning, Aug. 10.
The QCPD identified the suspects as Riza Bilbao, 25; and her live-in partner, Alvin Rapinian, 26, both residents of Quezon City.
Maj. Jacinto Pascual IV, PS 7 Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) chief, said confiscated from the suspects were alleged kush, marijuana, shabu , ecstacy, and cocaine, among others
The QCPD said that the total value of the alleged illegal drugs seized is P87,609,800 - around 1.5 kilos of shabu valued at P10,200,000; more or less 85 kilos of marijuana worth P10,200,000; more or less 35 kilos of kush valued at P49,000,000.00; one kilo of cocaine valued at P5,300,000; some 7,594 pieces of ecstasy valued at P12,909,800.
Also recovered from the suspects were two weighing scales, the buy-bust money, and a cellphone
The PS 7 launched the intelligence-driven buy-bust operation at a house being rented by the suspects on 16th Avenue in Brgy. San Roque, Cubao. at around 2:30 a.m.
The police arrested the suspects after striking a deal with them for a bogus drug transaction.
"We are not expecting that much volume of drugs within our AOR (area of responsibility) , 'yung transaction lang namin is to buy a part of the merchandise. Then, incidental to the operation, we were able to discover na marami pa pala silang tinatago (that they are still hiding more)," Lt. Col. Joseph Almaquer, PS 7 chief, told reporters.
He said the suspects' transactions were usually done through online platforms and deliver the items to buyers.
Almaquer added that the house where the operation was held also served as the warehouse for illegal drugs
"There are other persons involved who are utilizing the online platform, transacting this illegal activity. Then, the usual mode is that they instruct these suspects to give the items to the buyers," he said.
He also said that there are also reports from barangay officials regarding the suspicious activity of the suspects in the area.
The police chief said that they are investigating the organization of the suspect and if there are other suppliers of the illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, the three-year-old son of the suspects was rescued by PS 7 operatives and is now under their care.
Almaquer said that they will coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with regards to the rescued child.