P1.3B worth of shabu discovered inside abandoned car in Pampanga mall parking lot
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), backed by local police forces, seized around P1.3 billion worth of shabu during an operation at the parking lot of a popular mall in Mabalacat City in Pampanga.
The illegal drugs, estimated to be around 200 kilos, were found inside a red seven-seater vehicle that was reported to have been abandoned for a few days before the car was inspected.
Police Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the drug haul was a significant breakthrough in the government’s aggressive fight against illegal drugs operations in the country.
The operation was led by the NBI Manila Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (TFAID) in coordination with the Mabalacat City Police Station.
“The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now actively coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to determine the ownership and registration details of the vehicle in which the illegal drugs were found,” said Acorda.
“This collaboration is a crucial step in identifying the individuals or entities behind this illicit activity and holding them accountable under the law,” he added.
The seized illegal drugs are now under the custody of the NBI.
Police believe that shabu inside the vehicle is part of the new modus in illegal drugs distribution wherein the source would just tip the distributor of the location of the shabu for pick-up.
"I commend the dedication and collaboration exhibited by the NBI Manila Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (TFAID) and our PNP personnel in this significant operation. The discovery of such a massive drug haul serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges posed by illegal drug syndicates in our society,” said Acorda.