Anti-narcotics officers in Quezon province made significant progress against major drug traffickers, arresting two pushers and seizing over P3.9 million worth of shabu (crystal meth) and marijuana in Calauag town on Sunday morning, August 31.
This operation marked the fourth successful action in a week against “high-value” targets, resulting in the seizure of over P12 million worth of illegal drugs in the province.
Colonel Romulo Albacea, Quezon’s police chief, announced that members of the provincial drug enforcement unit (PDEU) apprehended two suspected traffickers, “Atoy,” 44, and “Macmac,” 43, at 9:13 a.m. Sunday after they sold shabu worth P1,000 to an undercover officer in Barangay Mabini.
PDEU operatives seized one sealed plastic sachet and two knot-tied plastic bags containing suspected meth weighing a total of 187 grams. According to the Dangerous Drugs Board’s rate of P6,800 per gram, the confiscated drugs were valued at P1,271,600, but police estimate the street value of the shabu at P3,814,800 at the current rate of P20,400 per gram. The suspects also had a brick of dried marijuana leaves weighing 250 grams, valued at P90,000 on the street.
A Rusco multicab, allegedly used by the suspects in their illegal activities, was also confiscated. The report identified Atoy as a high-value individual (HVI) on the police drug watch list, indicating a major trafficker, financier, or syndicate member, while Macmac was listed as a street-level dealer.
On August 28, the same PDEU team arrested “Mel,” 28, in another sting operation in Barangay Ibabang Dupay in Lucena City, the provincial capital.
During the operation, the officers seized from the suspect, an HVI, two sealed sachets and four plastic bags containing suspected shabu weighing 161 grams, valued at P3,284,400 on the street.
On the same day, local drug enforcers in Candelaria town arrested “Ken,” 31, and “Melvin,” 29, in a buy-bust operation inside a subdivision in Barangay Masin Sur, where they seized suspected shabu weighing 71 grams, with a street value of P1,448,400.
Ken was identified as an HVI, while Mel was recognized as a local street dealer.
On August 24, another HVI was arrested in a drug operation in Mulanay town.
The suspect was reportedly found with 13 plastic sachets and one knot-tied plastic bag containing suspected meth weighing 162.72 grams, with a street value of P3,380,688.
Quezon police are investigating the supply chain of drugs sold by the arrested individuals.
The suspects are currently in police custody and will face charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“As long as there are drug syndicates and pushers in Quezon, expect the police to come knocking on their doors — and we will not stop until they are behind bars,” Albacea stated.
