4 drug suspects nabbed in Bicol stings

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

LEGAZPI CITY—Police arrested four suspected drug personalities and seized more than P77,000 worth of shabu (crystal meth) in separate buy-bust operations in the Camarines provinces on Wednesday and Thursday, June 15 and 16.

Police Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol cop spokesperson, said Jeffrey Balatan, 30, was arrested around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Bagasbas in Daet town, Camarines Norte.

The authorities confiscated 10 grams of shabu worth P70,000 from Balatan, who was on the illegal drugs watch list in the region.

In Mercedes town in Camarines Norte, Nhil Mark Quinto, 30, was arrested at 9:05 p.m. in Barangay 7.

Calubaquib said the team recovered five sachets of shabu and P500 buy-bust money.

In Naga City, Camarines Sur, Police Master Sergeant Tobias Bongon, city cop spokesperson, said in a report that Billy Jay Francisco, 22, was arrested at 10:55 p.m. in Barangay Tabuco.

Authorities recovered five sachets of shabu worth P5,610 from Francisco.

In Barangay Pacol, also in Naga City, Robert Ederio, 34, was also arrested at 12:50 a.m. Thursday.

Recovered were seven sachets of shabu worth P1,530.

Bongon said Francisco and Ederio were both on the illegal drugs watch list.

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

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