CLARK, Pampanga—TWO suspects were arrested and over 11 kilos of shabu worth P75 million were recovered by the combined team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs during an interdiction operation here on Sunday, August 31.
The report reaching the office of PDEA director general Isagani Nerez and DDG for Operations Renato Gumban said the suspects were arrested while leaving the customs office in Clark past 5:00pm, carrying with them a package declared as ‘Industrial Water Chiller’ from Mexico with the final address in Cainta, Rizal.
On the ground inspection by the operating officers from the Clark Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (CRK-IADITG) of the shipment subsequently resulted to the discovery of the illegal drugs weighing 11.04 kilos.
The suspects were identified as one alias ‘Dexs,’ 52, who hails from Cebu and alias ‘Maca,’ 54, who hails from Tarlac.
The two would be facing charges for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Other supporting units include the PDEA Region 3 Office, PDEA Pampanga Office, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Pampanga District Office and the regional and provincial offices of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG).
The authorities also said they recovered other vital pieces evidence related to the smuggling attempt and the vehicle used to transport the water chiller.
It can be recalled that last August 12, Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno paid a courtesy call to DG Nerez and other top PDEA officials to discuss how both agencies can further strengthen their cooperation in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs (Pinoy Exposé, August 20, 2025).