ORMOC CITY— A tricycle driver was arrested Sunday evening, Feb.22, after allegedly yielding suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Marvel, Isabel, Leyte.
Operatives from the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the Isabel Municipal Police conducted the operation at around 8:10 p.m., recovering eight sachets containing a white crystalline substance.
The suspect, identified as alias “Melvin,” 38, single, and a trike driver from Brgy. Marvel, was caught after one sachet worth P500 was bought by an undercover operative.
A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated insulating witnesses, revealed a brown coin purse containing seven additional sachets of the suspected shabu. Authorities also recovered a P500 bill, part of the court-authorized buy-bust fund.
The combined weight of the suspected shabu was estimated at approximately 1.43 grams, with a Dangerous Drugs Board value of around P9,724.
Charges for violations of Republic Act 9165 were filed at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Ormoc City. The suspect is currently held at the Isabel MPS detention facility.
(ROBERT DEJON)
