SAN JOSE CITY – Marijuana bricks with an estimated value of P6.6 million were seized from a suspected top courier of illegal drugs arrested by joint police operatives in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tayabo here at about 5:10 a.m. Thursday.
Police identified the suspect as Erwin Mariano, 21, a tricycle driver from Purok 27, Upper San Carlos Heights, Baguio City but staying at Barangay Samoki Lingkawa, Riverside, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Two of his alleged cohorts, identified only as Jayson and Sammy Damaso eluded arrests.
Acting city police director Lt. Col. Criselda de Guzmansaid Mariano belongs to a notorious drug courier group operating in Regions 2, 3, Cordillera, and the National Capital Region.
An investigation showed the group has been delivering some 50 kgs of marijuana bricks once a month in their area of operations.
Police recovered from the suspect five boxes of marijuana bricks weighing about 55 kgs, a .22 revolver, 40 live bullets for .9mm pistol, a mobile phone, different identification cards, P279,000 boodle and P1,000 genuine buy–bust money.
Per Dangerous Drugs Board computation, the marijuana haul amounts to P6.6 million, police added.
Authorities also seized the dump truck (NOF-271), allegedly used in transporting the illegal drugs, de Guzman reported.
Combined operatives from different police units of Nueva Ecija and Bataan, along with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted the buy–bust upon confirming the suspects’ illegal activities, she said.
The suspect is now detained at the city police’s custodial facility facing charges of violating RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs law.
