Wanting P3M, settling for P2M: Duo ‘in a hurry’ fall in drug bust

Two men were arrested early Saturday for allegedly selling a kilo of “shabu” to undercover policemen in Quezon City.

Henry Atilano, 50, and Larex Pepino, 34, both of Pulang Lupa, Las Piñas City, were arrested after handing over the illegal drug to antinarcotics agents posing as buyers in a transaction at the dimly lit corner of Anonas and Lanzones streets in Barangay Quirino 2B, Project 3.

The bag of shabu was initially offered at P3 million but the suspects later agreed to give it to the policemen for P2 million since they were “in a hurry” to make money, according to Insp. Roberto Razon of the Quezon City Police District’s Anti-Illegal Drugs unit.

Also seized from Atilano and Pepino was a red Honda CRV (XMF-828), a digital weighing scale and four cell phones.

The QCPD got wind of the pair’s illegal drug trade from a smalltime peddler who was earlier arrested, Razon said.

The smalltime pusher revealed his suppliers, including those based in Las Piñas City, referring to Atilano and Pepino.

Earlier this week, the QCPD antinarcotics team went to Las Piñas, pretending to be interested in buying “wholesale” from the suspects.

“The suspects only sell shabu in bulk, with one kilo as the minimum. They don’t do street-level (smalltime) retailing,” Razon explained.

A transaction was set for Friday night, initially in Taguig City and later moved to the Libis area in Quezon City.

The suspects, however, asked for another location since Libis was still crowded when they got there.

The policemen then suggested a spot along Anonas Street, which Razon said was perfect since it was dimly lit.

Atilano and Pepino were arrested the moment they handed over the shabu and got hold of the P2 million in fake cash.

They allegedly got their supply from a source in Bacoor, Cavite province, Razon added.