Police seized 10 kilos of shabu worth P68 million at a Pagadian checkpoint after officers found hidden drugs inside a tricycle from Cotabato City. (Contributed Photo)
PAGADIAN CITY โ Police officers conducting a routine checkpoint in Pagadian City seized 10 kilos of suspected shabu or methamphetamine worth P68 million on Tuesday and arrested a man from Cotabato City, authorities said.
The suspect, identified as Jomar Abdullah, was stopped in Barangay Buenavista while driving a white three-wheeled vehicle, locally known as a bao-bao.
Officers from the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group had intended only to inspect the vehicleโs registration documents during an anti-carnapping checkpoint.
Police said Abdullah could not produce a certificate of registration, prompting officers to hold him for further inspection.
During the search, officers noticed a hidden compartment beneath the vehicleโs seat.
Inside, they found 10 plastic packs containing white crystalline substances.
Authorities called in anti-narcotics operatives, who later confirmed the packages contained shabu, the local term for methamphetamine.
Each package weighed about one kilogram, according to police. The total street value was estimated at P68 million.
Investigators said the drugs were believed destined for delivery somewhere in Pagadian City, though authorities did not disclose the intended recipient.
Abdullah was taken into custody and is being held at a police facility in Pagadian, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur.
The seizure, made during what began as a traffic document inspection, underscored how routine checkpoints can expose larger criminal activity.
Police said the investigation is continuing to determine the source of the narcotics and identify possible accomplices.
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