10 drug pushers nabbed in Lucena

LUCENA CITY – At least 10 suspected drug pushers were arrested in a series of buy-bust operations in Lucena City on Saturday and Sunday with the help of concerned citizens, police said.

Local drug enforcement unit nabbed Marvin Pilar, 26; Jerick Dela Cruz, 31; and Banjo De Leon, 23; in a drug transaction in Barangay Ibabang Iyam at around 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, Lucena police chief Supt. Romulo Albacea said in a report.

Police also reported the arrest on Saturday of the following suspected village drug pushers — Ronald Mandac, 36; Annabel Aviles, 35; and Sandy Tristan Maranan, 37; in Barangay Cotta; Clark Tan, 39; Teodoro Tagsip, 52,; and Wilson Pormasdoro, 51; in Barangay 1; and Wilson Tan, 34; in Barangay Market View.

Anti-illegal drugs operatives seized 45 plastic sachets of “shabu” (crystal meth) weighing a total of 7.81 grams with an estimated value of P14,449.

The confiscated shabu was worth P39,000 in the street market at P5,000 per gram.

Police said concerned citizens reported the activities of “new and old drug pushers in their place through Project Blue Box and police hotlines.”

The box-shaped receptacles were fixtures in every barangay, shopping mall, and strategic area around the city. Authorities encourage citizens to report information on crime and illegal drugs in their areas to the police. /ee