(Photo courtesy of PNP Drug Enforcement Group)
MANILA – Four drug suspects were arrested while PHP13.4 million worth of illegal drugs were seized in separate operations in Cavite and Nueva Ecija, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday.
Citing reports from the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), Gen. Debold Sinas said suspects Aina Maamor, 20, Sittie Pagayao, 30, and Michael Romualdez, 33 were arrested around 12:15 a.m. on Thursday in a buy-bust operation in Imus City, Cavite.
Seized from the suspects were one paper bag with a heat-sealed plastic pack with around one kilo of suspected shabu worth PHP6.8 million and marked money.
The arrested suspects belong to a well-known drug syndicate in the area that distributes large volume of illegal drugs in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.
During investigation, the suspects revealed that they get their supply of illegal drugs from a certain Jin Chi Chen alias "Intsik", a Chinese national detained in Taguig City.
Also on Thursday, police officers and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested drug courier Erwin Mariano, 21, in San Jose, Nueva Ecija.
Mariano yielded around 55 kilograms of marijuana bricks worth PHP6.6 million, one dump truck, .22-caliber revolver, 9mm pistol, ammunition, mobile phone, wallet containing different IDs, and boodle money.
The suspect is operating as a drug courier in various parts of Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Metro Manila for someone he identified only as “Jason”.
Meanwhile, "Jason" and another cohort of Mariano, identified as Sammy Damaso, remain at large and are now the subject of manhunt operations by the police.
The suspects are now facing criminal charges violating Sections 5 and 11 of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
