Raps filed vs courier of P816-M shabu in Calapan City

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has filed criminal charges against the courier of 120 kilos of suspected shabu valued at P816 million recovered in an interdiction operation here on March 21.

CHRISTOPER (left) and the 120 kilos of shabu intercepted by authorities in Calapan City on March 21. (Jerry Alcayde)

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/21/p816-m-shabu-seized-in-oriental-mindoro

Joseph Frederick Calulut, PDEA spokesman, said the suspect, Christopher, 43, is facing cases for violating Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law of 2002.

Section 5 of RA 9165 punishes an individual for the sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution, or transportation of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor.

The suspect, a truck driver, is reportedly a former resident of Barangay Pulo Maestra Vita, Oton, Iloilo who transferred to neighboring Pavia town.

He was arrested after narcotics detection dogs of the Philippine Coast Guard and PDEA-Mimaropa (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) positively detected the presence of shabu in five bags and two metal suitcases in a car.

Authorities intercepted the car in a checkpoint near the pier exit. Christopher ran and attempted to escape but was eventually caught.

The suspect said he took the vehicle in Batangas and boarded a Roll on, Roll off to Calapan City.

Calulut said the contraband will be processed and eventually disposed in a thermal plant in mainland Luzon. 

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/31/pdea-probing-source-of-p816-m-shabu-in-oriental-mindoro