File photo of suspects in handcuffs
LUCENA CITY – Police anti-drug operatives nabbed five alleged drug traffickers and seized over P1 million worth of shabu (crystal methamphetamine) in separate buy-bust operations in Lucena City on Thursday and Friday, May 18 and 19, 2023.
Quezon police chief Colonel Ledon Monte said drug enforcers nabbed Mark Anthony Alzona, 21, and Sophia Nicole Alpay, 21, at 4:20 a.m. Friday in Barangay Cotta.
Seized from the suspects were eight plastic sachets of shabu with a total street value of P660,960.
The arrest of Alzona, tagged as a “high-value” target in government’s anti-drug war, also reportedly yielded an undocumented caliber .38 revolver loaded with three bullets and a mobile phone containing a list of his supposed drug transactions.
Operatives also apprehended Kimberly Juaqueca, 23, and Melchor Barrios, 47, during a sting operation in another part of the village at 10:29 p.m. on Thursday.
The two were caught in possession of six sachets of methamphetamine with a street value of P332,520.
Earlier, Joey Pabrea, 22, was nabbed in Barangay Mayao Crossing on Thursday morning.
Authorities confiscated four sachets of shabu worth P19,992 from the suspect.
Police were tracking the source of illegal drugs being peddled by the suspects.
Those arrested were placed in police custody and are facing charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.