Shabu merchant nabbed in Bacolod buy-bust operation
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Government anti-narcotics agents seized more than a kilogram of shabu (methampehtamine hydrochloride) with a market value of about P7 million in a buy-bust operation on the parking lot of the Gaisano Mall in Bacolod City on Monday, a regional official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement agency said Tuesday.
PDEA regional director Paul Ledesma said it was the biggest drug apprehension in Western Visayas in the seven years since he assumed office.
He identified the alleged drug dealer as Edgardo Justo, alias “Rey Roman”, 36, of Barangay (village) Santa Cruz in Murcia, Negros Occidental, who was apprehended by Jayr Espares, team leader of PDEA-Negros Occidental, at the parking lot of the Gaisano Mall on Araneta Street at 2 p.m. Monday.
Twenty big plastic sachets of shabu, hidden in the soles of 10 pairs of assorted slippers and sandals and covered with carbon paper, were confiscated from Justo’s Isuzu D-Max pick-up truck, which he used in delivering shabu, Ledesma said.
Espares said Justo was nabbed after he handed to a poseur-buyer an elongated sachet of shabu in exchange for P500 in marked money. Another sachet was recovered from Justo, who attempted to escape but failed, Espares said.
He said Justo, who had been under surveillance for several weeks now, got his supply of shabu from a source in Manila, through a courier service.
Article continues after this advertisementLedesma said carbon paper is used to wrap contraband such as shabu so it is not easily detected by lasers during inspections at courier services.
Article continues after this advertisementJusto must have just received the shabu from his source, Ledesma said.
According to Espares, Justo was distributing shabu in several areas in Negros Occidental and he may also have been selling some in Murcia, where he is lives.
Justo, however, denied that he was from Murcia.
Ledesma said Justo may face charges of selling and possessing illegal drugs.
Priests in Murcia have been complaining about the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs in the town.
RELATED STORY
P22.7M worth of ‘shabu,’ marijuana destroyed in Negros Occidental
