Shabu Seized in Rubber Sandals

●Syndicate sliced a portion of a rubber sandal then inserted a 50-gram pack of shabu in each of the 10 pairs before sending them.

The agents of the Cebu-based Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) scored anew yesterday after they arrested a woman and her daughter while claiming a parcel from a private cargo forwarder that contained a kilo of shabu with a street value of P8 million.

The shabu was equally divided and placed inside 20 smaller packs at 50 grams each.

The drug syndicate, reportedly from Manila, sliced a portion of the 10 pairs of rubber sandals then inserted the shabu in each of the sandals before sending them to a cargo forwarding firm.

PDEA-7 Operations Chief David Mark Maramba said they received a tip from their counterpart in Manila about the illegal drug shipment that prompted them to immediately monitor the arrival of the parcels of the forwarding firm from its branch in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The anti-drugs agents quickly coordinated with the personnel of the said cargo forwarding for them to monitor those persons who will claim the parcels of sandals. PDEA fielded an agent to pose as personnel of the forwarding company.

Maramba said Editha Paul, 58, and her daughter Maricris, 32, both residents of Barangay Lorega-San Miguel arrived on Monday afternoon to claim the parcel of sandals. PDEA agent held the claimants of the parcel and inspected the sandals in front of them.

Editha said she did not know there were drugs inside the parcel and she was only requested by a friend to claim it, and she brought her daughter along with her because she does not know how to use her cellular phone.

According to Editha, someone sent her a text message containing the tracking number of the parcel for her to claim. But when the PDEA agents asked her of the identity of the person who reportedly requested her to claim the parcels, she refused.

Editha even pleaded the PDEA agents to spare her daughter and release her because she had just given birth. Her baby will not get to experience the care of her mother if she goes to jail, Editha said. Editha also claimed that she is a laundrywoman and she is willing to be sent to jail.

Maramba said they will file a case for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act against the two women.

Photo above: PDEA-7 Operations Chief David Mark Maramba showed to reporters how drug smugglers inserted the shabu stuffs to the rubber sandals. (Contributed Photo)