MAASIN CITY — A high-value drug suspect listed on the local police watchlist was arrested after operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Team seized suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation at around 12:46 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, in Purok Kamagong, Barangay Mantahan, this city.
Maasin City Police Station chief PLtCol Jason Balbarona identified the suspect as alias “Ay-ay,” 39, single, unemployed, and a resident of the area.
Police recovered from the suspect one sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, allegedly sold to an undercover operative for P1,000.
A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, yielded a cigarette pack marked “Marlboro” containing another medium-sized sachet of suspected shabu.
Also recovered were a P1,000 bill used as marked money, a P20 coin, a Columbia Black Bull cap, and a yellow-green lighter.
Authorities said the confiscated suspected shabu has an estimated weight of 13.05 grams and a Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P88,740.
The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
Charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against the suspect, who is currently detained at the Maasin City Police Station lock-up cell.
(ROBERT DEJON)
