Seized marijuana bricks. Contributed photo
SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija – Two suspected drug peddlers yielded P160,000 worth of dried marijuana leaves in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Diversion here at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, police said.
Nueva Ecija police director Col. Jaime Santos identified the suspects as Garry Nagaño, 33, a driver from Barangay Bagong Silang, Talavera, Nueva Ecija and Alex Benigno, 30, of Tuao, Cagayan who presently resides in Science City of Muñoz.
Santos said the operation against the duo was conducted by elements of San Leonardo municipal police station in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
A total of 2.97 kilos of dried marijuana leaves were seized from the suspects, he said.
Police said that an undercover policeman initially bought one sachet of dried leaves.
Upon arrest, however, four bricks of dried marijuana leaves with an estimated street value, per Dangerous Drugs Board, of P160,000 were recovered from the suspects, investigation showed.
Police also recovered the P500 marked bill used in the buy bust.
Appropriate charges for violations of Section 5 and 11 RA 9165 are being prepared against the suspects who are now detained at the local police’s custodial facility here.
Santos said that NEPPO police force will continue to intensify operations against illegal drugs in the province. He also reiterated the directives of PRO-3 director Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon “to continuously conduct proactive operations and invigorate its efforts to wipe out all forms of illegal drugs in order to achieve its quest for a drug free Central Luzon.”
