3 suspected marijuana, shabu peddlers yield guns, grenade in Quezon

LUCENA CITY – Police arrested three suspected drug pushers and seized two handguns, one grenade, and ammunition in Lucena City and Gumaca town in Quezon province on Saturday and Sunday, police said.

Colonel Audie Madrideo, Quezon police chief, said anti-illegal drug operatives collared Rustie Ladia, 39, after he sold a plastic sachet of dried marijuana leaves or “weed” to a police agent and an informant in a transaction in Barangay (village) Ibabang Dupay around 1:45 a.m. Sunday.

Ladia yielded 86.6 grams of marijuana in eight sealed plastics worth P10,900 in the streets.

Police also found the suspect carrying a caliber .22 magnum revolver and 10 bullets.

In Gumaca town, policemen armed with a search warrant raided the house of Allan Francia and Jeanet Arida in Barangay Butaguin around 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Authorities confiscated five plastic sachets of “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P2,775 in the streets, a caliber .38 gun, a hand grenade, and seven bullets.

Police said drug syndicates are arming some of their peddlers for protection, aside from free supplies of illegal drugs for personal use as incentives.