BACNOTAN, La Union – Police arrested four men at dawn Friday at Barangay Poblacion here while they are about to deliver P8-million worth of marijuana.
Senior Inspector Fredilex Marron, the town’s police chief, identified the suspects as Govanny Gapasin, 25, Christopher Bangsil, 20, both residents of San Gabriel, La Union, Ronnie Dagsa, 27, of Arosip, Bacnotan, La Union, and Ranie Estepa, 32, a resident of Naguilian town and driver of the passenger van they used in transporting the marijuana.
Marron said that they are conducting checkpoint at around 2:30 a.m. along the national highway when the suspects’ vehicle arrived but suddenly evaded the policemen and tried to escape.
“They tried to escape but we chased them. They said they are carrying fruits but an informant tipped us already about their cargo which is marijuana. One suspect managed to flee before their arrest,” Marron said.
The marijuana is composed of 98 pieces tubes weighs each a kilo and 32 bricks at two kilos each, with an estimated market value of P8-million but could react P10-million based on the street value.
Sr. Superintendent Angelito Dumangeng, La Union police director, told local media that the arrest of the suspects is in connection with the police’s project Lambat Sibat – an intensified campaign against criminality.
Dumangeng said the suspects have been the subject of a week-long surveillance after the police received information that they would be delivering marijuana from San Gabriel to Baguio City and Manila.
The suspects are now detained at the Bacnotan municipal jail and would be charged for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 or Republic Act 9165.
By Dexter A. See