2 Nigerians nabbed as shabu supplier

By Mar S. Arguelles LEGAZPI CITY --- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in in Bicol disclosed that the suppliers of the 1 kilo of Shabu (crystal meth) worth P 6M seized earlier in Naga City were nabbed early yesterday (Nov. 8) in Kawit, Cavite. Christian Frivaldo, PDEA regional director, said two Nigerian nationals identified as Solomon Lewi Anochiwa and Desmond Chima Ozoma were collared at around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday in an entrapment operation carried out by joint operatives of PDEA Camarines Sur and PDEA Region IV-A. Frivaldo in a text message shortly after the arrest said the suspects were nabbed during a buy-bust operation along Centennial Road in Kawit, Cavite. PDEA operatives seized from the suspect were 3 pieces of knotted plastic bags containing suspected shabu weighing more or less 1 kilogram with a street value of P6M, 20 bundles of boodle money used for the buy-bust operation, and a P1,000 bill. Frivaldo has pinned down the two suspects as the supplier of the illegal drugs intended for Camarines Sur. Quoting intelligence report, the PDEA chief said surveillance operation has established that the Nigerian suspects were High Value Targets (HVT) included in the watch list as suppliers of the illegal drugs entering the Southern Luzon area and the Bicol region. “Matagal na ang presence ng mga ito na sinusubukan sakupin ang market dito – kaya bago maka pasok sila sa Bicol we made sure that they will not gain ground here,” Frivaldo said. Operatives of PDEA Camarines Sur earlier arrested four drug couriers identified as Olivia Encinas, 60, of Laguna; Joel Saut, 35, of Cavite, Alvin Andaya, 37, also of Cavite and Rodigundo Celis, 34, of Taguig. A kilo of shabu worth P6M were seized from them (see related story). Frivaldo said seized illegal drugs from drug couriers came from Metro Manila whose delivery was intended for Camarines Sur.