Armed drug suspect with P380,000 ‘shabu’ arrested in Tagaytay

LUCENA CITY—Anti-narcotics operatives arrested an armed suspected high-value drug trafficker, seizing over P380,000 worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) and an undocumented firearm in a buy-bust operation in Tagaytay City, Cavite, on Tuesday morning.The Cavite Police Provincial Office reported that the suspect was arrested at around 7 a.m. after allegedly selling P500 worth of shabu to an undercover police operative in Barangay Sambong,Seized from the suspect were two heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu weighing a total of 55.9 grams.

READ: 2 drug suspects busted, P3.4 M shabu seized in Tagaytay stingUsing the Dangerous Drugs Board’s standard valuation of P6,800 per gram, police placed the seized drugs’ value at P380,120.Operatives also confiscated a mobile phone for examination to determine possible drug-related transactions.During a routine body search, the suspect was found carrying an undocumented caliber .45 pistol loaded with five rounds of ammunition.The suspect, a resident of Laurel, Batangas, was classified as a high-value individual (HVI), a designation commonly used by authorities for drug traffickers, financiers, or members of drug syndicates.Authorities are investigating the source of the suspected illegal drugs allegedly sold by the suspect.The suspect remains in police custody and is set to face charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and the government firearm law./coa