BONTOC, Mountain Province – Five drug couriers were separately arrested for transporting marijuana bricks worth P3,882,000.00 during the relentless anti-illegal drug operations conducted by combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents over the past days.
Recently, a free-lancer video editor identified as Eliterio Celada Pazon, 25, and a resident of Sta. Rita, Barangay Guiguinto, Bulacan who was onboard a utility vehicle bound for Abatan, Bauko, Mountain Province was arrested in a checkpoint at Sitio Nacagang, Barangay Tambingan, Sabangan, Mountain Province. Confiscated from his possession were 10 bricks of suspected Marijuana leaves placed inside his backpack wrapped with black cellophane with a dangerous drug board value of P1,182,000.00.
Moreover, , two 17 year old minors who are residents of Sampaloc St, Doña Nicosia Subdivision, Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City were taken into custody by the police after they were intercepted at Sitio Paleng, Barangay, Lagan, Sabangan, Mt. Province. The duo were on board a Rising Sun Bus when it was flagged down by the police for inspection. At this juncture, four marijuana bricks with a dangerous drug board value of P480,000.00 were confiscated from their possession that led to their arrest.
Further, two passengers identified as Jay R. Farala, 22 and Joshua Brylle Dela Paz, 23, both from Cruz St. Parang, Marikina City were captured at Rising Sun Bus Terminal, Poblacion, Bontoc, Mt. Province. Confiscated from their possession were 12.95 Kgs of suspected Marijuana with an estimated value of P1,500,000.00.
Finally, four bricks of suspected marijuana leaves and two tubular marijuana leaves wrapped in a transparent cellophane placed in a sack with an estimated street value of ₱ 720,000. 00 was recovered along the Bontoc – Kalinga Road particularly at Sitio Cheka-a, Bontoc Ili, Bontoc, Mountain Province in the morning of August 16, 2019. Said contraband was left abandoned by unidentified persons who might have monitored the intensified campaign against illegal drugs thru conduct of checkpoints.
All arrested suspects were charged for violation of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) while the minors were turned over to the DSWD.
It has been a noticeable trend that more teen age Manileños become drug couriers. PROCOR PNP warns the public especially the parents to monitor and safeguard their children especially the youth because they are easily lured by syndicates by offering or promising huge amount of money in exchange of their services as couriers.
By Dexter A. See
