Man, pregnant wife nabbed for marijuana

A couple allegedly involved in selling marijuana was arrested in a buy-bust operation outside a mall in barangay Ibabao, Mandaue City.

Randy and his pregnant wife Catherine Laurito told the police they were forced to sell marijuana to meet  their children’s needs,  said Senior Insp. Ramil Morpos, chief of the Casuntingan police station.

The couple lives in barangay Maslog, Danao City.

Morpos said the couple have been selling marijuana in Danao in the last five years and branched out to Mandaue in the last six months.

The couple was capable of disposing more than 10 kilos of dried marijuana leaves each week.

Morpos said a kilo of marijuana bought straight from supplier would cost P4,500.

But a kilo of marijuana if sold in the streets will amount to at least P30,000 since each stick is sold at P10, Morpos said.

Morpos said they have been monitoring the couple and one Dwight Takata.

Takata was arrested last Friday in barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City.

Takata then tagged the couple as his supplier.

Takate gave to the police Catherine’s cellphone number.

Police transacted with Catherine through text messages.

The unsuspecting couple agreed to meet with the would-be customer in U.N. Avenue past 4 pm. Saturday afternoon.

Catherine met the poseur-buyer in a waiting shed outside a mall.

When the money and marijuana sticks changed hands, police moved in and arrested the couple.

Recovered from Randy was a black bag containing one kilo of dried marijuana leaves.

Police said P500 buy-bust money was recovered from the wife.

The couple was detained at the Casuntingan police station while waiting for charges to be filed against them.