8 fall in Rizal drug busts; shabu worth P774K seized

Suspect in handcuffs graphics. INQUIRER.net

LUCENA CITY – An alleged leader of a drug syndicate and seven others were arrested on Thursday and Friday (Aug. 18 and 19) after yielding over P774,000 worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) in two buy-bust operations in San Mateo town and Antipolo City in Rizal province.

Police in Calabarzon said anti-narcotics agents collared Stephen Dela Cruz, Jeffrey Salinas, and Alvin Pormalejo in Barangay (village) Banaba at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday.

Confiscated from the suspect were 12 plastic sachets of shabu weighing 50 grams with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P340,000.

The report tagged Dela Cruz as an alleged leader of a group named after him that was involved in illegal drug trafficking.

San Mateo police also busted Jessa Chica, Elvis Maragrag, and Christian Esmale at 11:56 p.m. in another sting operation in Barangay Maly.

The suspects yielded 12 sachets of shabu weighing 55.1 grams with a DDB value of P374,680.

Police are tracking the source of the illegal drugs peddled by the suspects.

Meanwhile, policemen in Antipolo City arrested Mark Dave Vilarde and John Nico Villamor in two separate operations early Friday.

The suspects yielded nine sachets of shabu with a combined DDB value of P60,516.

All suspects are under police custody and facing charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. INQ

/MUF