A former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) found himself in handcuffs following the discovery and seizure of approximately P55,200,000 worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) at the Clark customs port. The operation, which took place on Tuesday night, December 19, resulted in the arrest of the suspect.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 3, in a statement released on Wednesday, disclosed that the contraband had been shipped from Long Beach, California, in the United States, and arrived at the port of Clark on December 17. The joint efforts of PDEA and the Bureau of Customs Port of Clark led to the detection and confiscation of a package containing eight kilograms of suspected shabu.
Subsequently, a controlled delivery operation was launched against the consignee, identified as 36-year-old Michael Florendo, a resident of Trece Martires. PDEA Region 3 stated, “The parcels containing the illegal drugs emanated from Long Beach, California, USA, and were consigned to Florendo. The discovery of the illicit items prompted us to launch a controlled delivery operation.”
The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Cavite police.
The seized suspected shabu will undergo forensic examination at PDEA’s laboratory in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, while the suspect is currently detained at the agency’s jail facility. He will face charges for the alleged importation of illegal drugs, in violation of the Comprehensive Anti-Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
