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March 2022 Infanta drug seizure

Coordinates: 14°44′27.02″N 121°38′42.54″E / 14.7408389°N 121.6451500°E / 14.7408389; 121.6451500
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March 2022 Infanta drug seizure
Part of Philippine drug war
Portion of the confiscated drugs from the Infanta drug seizure
DateMarch 15, 2022 (2022-03-15)
Timec. 4 am (PHT)
LocationNational Highway, Brgy. Comon, Infanta, Quezon, Philippines
Coordinates14°44′27.02″N 121°38′42.54″E / 14.7408389°N 121.6451500°E / 14.7408389; 121.6451500
TypeAnti-drug law enforcement operation
ParticipantsNational Bureau of Investigation
  • Task Force Against Illegal Drugs
  • Research and Analysis Division
Lucena District Office
Philippine National Police–Infanta
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)–Lucena
Casualties
None
Arrests10
Accused10
Amount of drugs seized1,585.25 kilograms (3,494.9 lb)
Worth of drugs seized₱11 billion

On March 15, 2022, law enforcement agents intercepted three vans in Brgy. Comon, Infanta, Quezon, Philippines, seized ₱11 billion worth of illegal drugs. The operation was described as the "biggest drug haul in Philippine history".

Operation

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The National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (TFAID) and Research and Analysis Division, the Lucena District Office, along with the Philippine National Police-Infanta and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Lucena conducted a seizure of methamphetamine hydrochloride, an illegal drug in the Philippines, on March 15, 2022 in Brgy. Comon, Infanta in Quezon province.[1]

At a checkpoint setup along the National Highway at around 4am, the combined law enforcement operatives intercepted three white Nissan Urban vans. Ten individuals were arrested.[2]

An informant from the PDEA provided leads to the NBI-TFAID which made the drug operation possible.[3]

The NBI received a tip, that a shipment of illegal drugs would arrive in the Philippines in the shores of Quezon province and would be received by land-based transporters.[4] The contraband reportedly were retrieved from waters between Polillo and Balesin islands.[5]

Drugs seized

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The drugs retrieved are methamphetamine hydrochloride. They were placed inside 1,589 teabags which in turn were concealed inside 80 sacks.[2] The drugs weigh 1,585.25 kilograms (3,494.9 lb) in total,[3] and are estimate to worth around ₱11 billion.[2] The seized contrabands would undergo inventory and marking at the Taytay Tiangge Building in Taytay, Rizal with the presence of Brgy. Comon officials and Infanta, Quezon media representatives.[6]

The seizure would be tagged as the "biggest drug haul in Philippine history" by the NBI.[7]

Suspects

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Ten suspects were arrested on the spot as a result of the operation.[2] The Department of Justice (DOJ) approved the filing of cases against all of the detained for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act No. 9165).[4] They were detained at the NBI center in Manila.[8]

The NBI has categorically deny linking any public officials of Quezon province to the drug seizure responding to circulating unverified information through social media.[8]

Honors

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President Rodrigo Duterte conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu to the National Bureau of Investigation which at the time was led by Officer in Charge Eric Distor.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Mondonedo-Ynot, Laureen (March 18, 2022). "P11-B shabu seized in Quezon, biggest drug haul in PH history". SunStar. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Shabu Net of P11 Billion Seized, 10 Suspects Intercepted in Infanta, Quezon". Quezon Provincial Police Office. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  3. ^ a b De Leon, Susan (December 21, 2022). "Over ₱11M cash rewards given to 4 informants under PDEA's Operation Private Eye". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Pulta, Benjamin (March 25, 2022). "Criminal raps OK'd vs. 10 suspects in P11-B shabu haul". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Cayabyab, Marc Jayson (March 31, 2022). "Duterte honors NBI over P11 billion drug haul". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "₱10 billion worth of shabu seized in Quezon". CNN Philippines. March 16, 2022. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  7. ^ Mallari, Delfin Jr; Mendoza, John Eric (March 16, 2022). "'Biggest drug haul in PH history: P11B in shabu seized in Quezon'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Damicog, Jeffrey (March 24, 2022). "NBI denies tagging any Quezon province official in P11-B worth of seized shabu". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.