Cops nab 6 drug suspects in Calabarzon; P1M shabu, marijuana seized

Seized packet of shabu (crystal meth) | INQUIRER.net stock photo

LUCENA CITY––Anti-narcotics agents arrested six drug suspects on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 7 and 8, and seized more than P1,086,000 worth of shabu (crystal meth) and marijuana in buy-bust operations in Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon provinces, police said Wednesday.

The Calabarzon police said in a report that police in Bauan town in Batangas collared Ramil Torres and Niña Batoto after they allegedly sold shabu at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday to an undercover cop in Barangay Manghinao Proper.

The suspects yielded five plastic sachets of shabu weighing 20 grams, according to the report. The confiscated illegal substance is worth P136,000 based on the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) estimate at the prevailing price of P6,800 per gram.

In Trece Martirez City, Cavite, anti-illegal drugs operatives busted Eduardo Barela and John Eric Velasquez in a sting operation at 12:05 a.m., also Wednesday, in Barangay Inocencio.

Authorities seized nine sachets of meth with an estimated DDB value of P128,000 and nine sachets of dried marijuana worth P42,200.

In Binangonan, Rizal, local police drug enforcers nabbed at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday Ricky Bandol in Barangay Libis. Police found in his possession three sachets of shabu weighing 45.50 grams with a DDB value of P309,400.

Lt. Col. Reynaldo Reyes, Lucena police chief, also reported the arrest of Alvina Manuel, 30, in a buy-bust operation at 11:53 p.m. in Dalahican.

The suspect, tagged as an alleged member of a drug group, was found carrying seven sachets of shabu with a street value of P110,568.

Rehabilitated drug users in the village identified Manuel as one of the suppliers of shabu to fisherfolk, dockworkers, and other drug users in Dalahican and nearby areas.

Col. Joel Villanueva, Quezon police chief, also reported the arrest early Tuesday of alleged marijuana traffickers Yoshi Nikko Takahashi, 32, and Joanna Mariel Manilay, 19, in Candelaria town.

Authorities seized 1,000 grams of dried marijuana leaves with a DDB value of P120,000 and worth P360,000 in the street market. The police also confiscated a motorcycle believed to have been used by the suspects in their illegal drug trade.

A police intelligence report says most shabu users have shifted to marijuana due to the scarcity of meth in the province, as most of the peddlers had been arrested, surrendered, or killed in buy-bust operations.

Last April, combined police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives busted a big-time marijuana trafficker and seized some P3.6 million worth of weeds in Lucena City.

The authorities are tracking down the sources of illegal drugs peddled by the suspects.

All suspects face charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

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