R1.4-M shabu seized in Butuan

BUTUAN CITY — Elements of Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) seized more than 11.4 million worth of suspected shabu from a drug suspect in a buy-bust operation at the Butuan City Premium Bus and Jeepney Terminal, Barangay Port Poyohon, here on Monday.

Chief Supt. Rolando B. Felix, regional director of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) based at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez here, identified the suspect as Arman T. Pinto, 37, a resident of Payahan, Calbayog City, Samar.

The suspect was arrested by elements of the DEU-BCPO, led by Supt. Rowena Martinez.

However, during interrogation, Pinto denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade, and refused to answer any more questions from BCPO investigators.

The suspect was arrested while allegedly selling a heat-sealed plastic containing shabu to an undercover police agent of BCPO-DEU.

“The arrest of the suspect happened at 10:30 a.m. on Monday when an undercover BCPO agent accepted part of the seized suspected shabu,” Martinez said, in her initial report.

Operating elements of BCPO-DEU confiscated from the suspect nine sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated weight of 120 grams, and with street value of 11,416,000. Also seized from him were the marked money worth 13,000, and cellular phone.

Pinto and the contraband confiscated from him are now at the BCPO while legal documentation is readied for the filing of a case for violation of the Dangerous Drug Act, Felix said.

Meanwhile, two other drug suspects, identified as Ian Wendel A. Daarol, 33 of Purok-11, Barangay Alegria, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur and Jaybert Genobia Ebarle, 31 from Barangay Tagcatong, Carmen, Agusan del Norte, were also arrested on Monday by the elements of DEU.

Daarol was arrested inside a disco club in Purok-2C, Barangay 1, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur after allegedly selling shabu to a poseur-buyer worth 1500. Also confiscated from him were nine sachets of illegal drugs with a street value 123,600, drug paraphernalia, cellular phone and a motorcycle.

Ebarle was caught allegedly peddling shabu in Carmen town of Agusan del Norte. (Mike U. Crismundo)