Cops seize P1.5-M shabu from druggie, 2 minors in Taguig

Police show the 1.5 kilos of shabu worth P1.5 million and other items seized from Ibrahim Salba and his two minor nephews in a buy-bust operation on Wednesday afternoon in Lower Bicutan, Taguig. PHOTO COURTESY OF TAGUIG CITY PNP

A drug suspect was arrested along with his two nephews who are still minors following a sting operation conducted in Taguig City on Wednesday afternoon.

Members of the Taguig Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit and Taguig Police Community Precinct (PCP) 2 arrested the 23-year-old Ibrahim Salba in a buy-bust operation at 4 p.m. outside his house at Road 15 Maguindanao Street, Barangay Lower Bicutan.

Senior Insp. Jonathan Arribe, PCP-2 commander, said a female relative of Salba led them to the ceiling of the third floor of the house where 1.5 kilos of shabu worth P1.5 million were hidden.

Police also arrested two nephews of Salba—aged 13 and 14—who were caught packing sachets of shabu. Their names were withheld being minors.

The two children are currently under the custody of the Taguig Police Women and Children’s Desk and scheduled to be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Arribe said the main target of their operation were the parents of the minors, Elmer and Diana. The couple, who allegedly head the drug business of the family, were not in their house during the police raid.

Arribe said, however, that even the minors handle their parents’ business just like their elders. “They’re not only runners or packers of shabu, they also receive money and manage their business when their parents were away.”

The Salba couple were on the drug watchlist of the barangay, and “even their neighbors were fully aware of their drug trade.”

Police officials said the arrested Salbas “look like twice their age” because of their “frequent use of illegal drugs” that took its toll on their health.

Aside from illegal drugs, police were also able to recover a weighing scale, a rifle replica, two magazines, and 60 live ammunition of M-14 rifle.

The elder Salba is currently detained at the detention cell of the Taguig Police. The suspects are now facing charges of violations of Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act. JPV