LUCENA CITY, Philippines – Police arrested three suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) peddlers and two alleged drug users in a buy-bust operation in Candelaria town in Quezon province before midnight Thursday.
Suspects Melinda Calapini, 44; Jose Panganiban, 59; and George Panganiban, 30, were arrested after they sold shabu to an undercover police officer in a transaction in Barangay (village) San Isidro around 11:35 p.m., Colonel Audie Madrideo, Quezon police chief, said in a report.
Suspected drug users Felipe Cumal, 45, and Fejy Dilima, 31, were reportedly caught while buying shabu from the suspects during the operation.
Police tagged Calapini as a former detainee who was facing drug pushing charges but was released following a plea bargaining agreement with the court.
Police seized from the five suspects six plastic sachets of shabu weighing 4.46 grams worth P30,328 at the prevailing price of P6,800 per gram in the locality.