Minor yields over P1-M marijuana, kush during Caloocan buy-bust ops

MANILA, Philippines — Over P1-million worth of marijuana leaves and fruit tops along with dried kush leaves were seized from a minor during a buy-bust operation in Caloocan City, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Friday.

Reports from NCRPO showed that the anti-drug sting was conducted early Friday morning by the Northern Police District and the Caloocan City Police’s Drug Enforcement Units, along with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), after authorities received a tip about the presence of illegal drugs in Barangay Bagong Barrio of Caloocan.

At least eight kilograms of dried marijuana leaves with fruit tops and 28 grams of dried kush leaves — estimated to be worth P960,000 and P67,000, respectively — were obtained from the crime scene.

The dried marijuana leaves were found inside eight bricks sealed in a transparent plastic,  while the kush was placed inside two vacuum-sealed plastic containers.  Aside from these, a bag and the boodle money were also recovered.

Police said that while the minor or the child in conflict with the law (CICL) was apprehended, the true target of the buy-bust operation, identified as a certain “Tipus,” was able to elude arrest.

All in all, the illegal drugs carry an estimated value of P1.027 million.

NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad said that he commended police officers who managed to arrest the CICL, saying that they are upset that minors are getting involved in the illegal drug trade.

“The involvement of a CICL on this illegal drug trade is upsetting, however, I commend our men on the ground for their diligence to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs in their areas of responsibility as well as monitoring drug personalities that leads to their arrest,” Natividad said.

“Rest assured that Team NCRPO will never cease to go after these illegal drug traders and make them accountable of their nefarious acts,” he added.

Aside from the operation in Bagong Barrio, there were other buy-bust operations launched in Caloocan and adjacent city Malabon on Thursday night.  At Caloocan’s Barangay 120, a certain Rose Ann Gonzales, 35, was arrested as she tried to sell a crystalline substance suspected to be shabu to undercover officers.

The illegal substance, weighing around 100 grams, was estimated to be worth P680,000.

The operation in Malabon meanwhile managed to arrest two suspects, identified as Angelito Manangan and Jeffrey Olino — both listed on the drug watchlist — after they were caught selling shabu in front of their house at Barangay Longos, Malabon City.

According to NCRPO, the seized shabu from Angelito Manangan and Jeffrey Olino weighed around 30 grams, and was said to carry a street value of P204,000.

All recovered evidence has been submitted to the National Police District’s Crime Laboratory while the arrested personalities are under the custody of the operating units.

Arrested suspects may face charges for violating Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

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JPV