Trap for gunrunner leads to mass arrest in drug den

Fourteen people were arrested in the cities of Navotas and Malabon in separate police operations on Tuesday that yielded about P100,000 worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) and two unlicensed firearms.

According to the Northern Police District director, Chief Supt. Rolando Anduyan, the operation in Navotas was originally meant to entrap Jhulius Simporios, 24, a gunrunning suspect.

An undercover agent arranged the purchase of a .45-caliber pistol and ammunition from Simporios at the suspect’s Market 3 residence for P15,000.

The suspect was arrested when he failed to produce any document authorizing him to keep or sell firearms.

The arresting team caught 12 other males — including three minors — in the middle of a shabu session inside Simporio’s house, Anduyan said.

A followup NPD operation conducted in Catmon, Malabon, led to the arrest of Simporio’s alleged accomplice, John Marlon Sabar, 19, who was caught carrying an unregistered .38-caliber revolver.

Like the .45-caliber pistol that Simporio tried to sell, the revolver had no serial number, the NPD said.

Police recovered from the suspects a total of 59 sachets of shabu weighing around 25 grams and with an estimated street value of P100,000.

The arrested minors were turned over to the custody of local social welfare office, while the rest of the suspects remained in detention at press time. —Mariejo S. Ramos