R100,000 shabu seized in buy-bust in Navotas

About R100,000 worth of suspected shabu were seized from 14 suspected drug personalities, with three minors among them, in buy-bust operations in Navotas City on Tuesday.

Police identified the arrested suspects as Jhulius Simporios, 24; Jaime Tumpan, 51; Alexis Basaya, 29; Jayson Gonzales, 33; Nestor Semafia, 32; Nelson Sardefia, 34; Edwin Lazos, 19; Edgar Tugano, 34; Judyanne Mariel Lafuente, 21; Jomel Simporios, 19; and Jhon Marlon Sabar, 19, and three minors aged 15 to 16.

The police report showed that elements of the Northern Police District Special Operations Unit (NPD-DSOU) conducted a buy-bust operation against Simporios at a house along Barangay North Bay Boulevard North where a poseur-buyer purchased a caliber .45 pistol with live ammunition.

Simporios was arrested after he failed to present documents indicating that he is authorized to sell, carry, or possess the said firearm, police said.

The other suspects were nabbed after the poseur-buyer chanced upon them having a drug session during his transaction with Simporios.

A follow-up operation was conducted at about 1 p.m. at Simporios’ rented house along Dulong Hernandez Street, Catmon, Malabon City after police received a tip that the suspect was hiding more firearms.

There, police arrested Sabar, who they found with a .38 revolver loaded with five live ammunition tucked on the right side of his waist.

Police retrieved 59 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 25 grams and with an estimated value of R100,000 and drug paraphernalia.

The retrieved firearms will be submitted to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory Office in Camp Crame, Quezon City for ballistic examination.

The arrested drug suspects are now under police custody and will be facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while the rescued minors will be sent to the City Social Welfare and Development in Navotas.