31 nabbed in raid of Laguna ‘shabu tiangge’

Authorities arrested 31 suspected drug traders on Tuesday morning after a "shabu tiangge" raid in Laguna, a police official said. The suspects were nabbed after joint elements from the military, the police, and the National Bureau of Investigation raided the illegal drug market in Barangay Parian in Calamba City at 5 a.m. Tuesday, SPO4 Efren Sanchez of the city police said. "Matagal na po naming sinu-surveillance iyang area na iyan. Nagsecure lang po kami ng search warrants tapos kinasa na iyong operasyon," Sanchez said a phone interview. Sanchez said local police have yet to identify all the suspects, although he described those arrested as "all male" and "all Filipinos." The suspects were brought to the Calamba police station after the raid, he added. The police official likewise said that a firefight ensued between authorities and some of the suspects who tried to flee, although police cannot yet determine if some drug traders managed to escape.

A separate report by GMA News’ John Consulta said authorities were able to recover marijuana, shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and some guns from the area. Two weeks ago, Laguna police also arrested 48 suspected drug traders in a shanty village in San Pedro town. — RSJ, GMA News