Nearly a ton of suspected shabu worth P6.7 billion was seized by police drug enforcement agents at early dawn Saturday that authorities described as the biggest drug haul in history.
The seizure of 990 kilos of shabu also resulted in the arrest of an active policeman that authorities said would be subjected to extensive questioning to find out who were his cohorts in the drug trade.
“This is probably the drug haul in the history of the Philippines,” said Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. in a press conference Sunday.
PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin said the arrested policeman was Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo.
Azurin said Mayo faces administrative and other charges.
The drugs were seized after the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) under Brig. Narciso Domingo raided a building on Jose Abad Santos Street in Tondo, Manila, at 4 a.m., arresting a certain Ney Saligumba Atadero, 50, and finding 890 kilos and 102 grams worth of shabu worth P6.7 billion.
Domingo said police found Mayo’s ID card after they searched the house of Atadero.
A follow-up operation in Quiapo led to the apprehension of Mayo of the PDEG, said Domingo. He was caught with two kilos of suspected shabu worth P13.6 million.
Azurin has ordered a full-blown investigation into Mayo and other persons that may be linked to him and illegal drugs.
“What is important is the arrest, what is important is the conviction and the internal cleansing of the PNP,” Abalos said.