Police arrested two high-value drug personalities in Caloocan City and seized more than P54.7 million worth of illegal drugs in a buy-bust operation.
According to PMaj. Amor Cerillo, it was around 12:30 am when the Northern Police District – District Drug Enforcement Unit (NPD- DDEU) personnel conducted a buy-bust operation inside the Monaliza Lodge located at #4 Don Vicente Ang, Brgy. 136, Bagong Barrio, of the said city.
The suspects were identified as Ali Usman y Balangcawan, male, 38 yrs old, married, tricycle driver and presently residing at P. Casal St., Quiapo Manila; and Von Emil Flores y Gamutia, male, 37 years old, single, motorcycle mechanic, and presently residing along Governor Pascual, Brgy. Niugan, Malabon City.
Recovered from the suspects were: a piece of medium heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing an undetermined amount of white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine hydrochloride locally known as shabu; eight pieces large Chinese teabags containing shabu; a piece plastic of shabu; buy-bust money; and a one-kilo bag.
The confiscated illegal drugs have an estimated total weight of more or less 8,055 grams with a standard street value amounting to P54.7 million.
The suspects are now in the custody of NPD detention facility and both facing section 5 and 11 of the RA 9165 or the comprehensive dangerous drugs act of 2002, while the pieces of evidence collected were turned over to the forensic unit for confirmatory testing.
In another operation, police busted two suspected drug dealers and seized eight kilos of shabu worth P54.5 million in an entrapment operation in Taguig City.
Arrested were Marisa Omar Asi, 34, and Muslimin Taudil Kamid, 32, both residents of Barangay Maharlika, Taguig City.
The suspects are believed to be members of a drug syndicate operating in south Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
Operatives of the Southern Police District – Drug Enforcement Unit led by Lt. Col. Renante Galang and men from the District Mobile Force Battalion conducted the buy-bust operation at Block 128 Lot 4 in Barangay Maharlika around 11:15 p.m.
A police officer acted as buyer and was able to negotiate with the suspects to buy 25 grams of shabu worth P170,000 resulting in their arrest and the discovery of more drugs in the place.
Seized from the suspects were eight kilos of shabu, a pouch, and the P1,000 cash and 34 pieces of boodle money used by authorities in the buy-bust operation.
The suspects are now under the custody of SPD-DEU and will be charged with violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act).
Authorities vowed that the government’s crackdown on drug dealing in the country will continue with the goal of catching traffickers. With Joel E. Zurbano