Tip leads police to alleged drug supplier

MANILA, Philippines — `A team of police operatives seized P3.4 million worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) and arrested two drug suspects during a predawn buy-bust operation on Sunday, according to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

Together with the Eastern Police District and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the QCPD’s Cubao police station conducted the entrapment operation at the corner of Kaginhawahan and Kaagapay Streets in Barangay Manggahan, Pasig City, based on a tip received the night before.

They arrested Mark Kim Cudia, 28, an alleged drug supplier and Bahala Na Gang member, and 19-year-old Patricia Jane Dayta.

At 11 p.m. on Saturday, Cubao policemen caught two drug suspects, Joy Cabacungan and Raynaldo Apostol, in an apartment on Aurora Boulevard. The pair yielded 15 sachets of shabu.

“The suspects pointed to Cudia as their source of illegal drugs,” the QCPD said in a statement.

The police quickly organized another entrapment operation, this time with Cudia as the target. On Sunday morning, an undercover policeman successfully bought P20,500 worth of shabu from the suspect and his cohort, leading to their arrest.

Aside from 500 grams of shabu estimated to be worth P3.4 million, the pair also yielded drug paraphernalia and a motorcycle.

According to the QCPD, Cudia was arrested for illegal drugs in 2017 but he was released in November last year as part of a plea bargain.