THREE young men, one of them recently arrested for possession of drugs, yielded more than P.7 million worth of dried marijuana leaves and fruiting tops during a buy-bust Saturday evening in Caloocan City.
Northern Police District (NPD) Director P/Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Ylagan identified the arrested suspects Mark Jason Palad, 24, of Vitas St Deca Homes, Tondo, who was arrested for possession of illegal drugs last April 10. 2020 but was released after posting bail in Manila, Harvey Spencer Lim Hong, 22 of Morato Mansion, Quintin Paredes St. Binondo and Ian Balbastro, 20 of Aguilar St. Binondo, Manila.
The arrest of the suspects stemmed from an operation last October 24, 2020 conducted by elements of District Drug Enforcement Unit (DDEU) resulting to the arrest of two online sellers identified as Michael Mendoza, 44 and Harold Gonzales, 29, and seizure of a kilogram of dried marijuana leaves and fruiting tops in Malabon City.
Through intelligence driven operation, P/Lt. Col. Giovanni Hycenth Caliao I, head of District Special Operation (DSOU) was able to identify the alleged cohorts of Mendoza and Gonzales prompting operatives of DDEU, led by P.Capt. Ramon Aquiatan, Jr to conduct the buy-bust at around 9:50 p.m. at the Victory Mall Parking Lot in Brgy. 72 Caloocan resulting to the arrest of the three suspects.
Brig. Gen. Ylagan said DDEU operatives seized from the arrested suspects six kilograms of dried marijuana leaves and fruiting tops with standard drug price worth P720,000.00, three grams of high grade marijuana leaves and Kush worth P4,500, buy-bust money consisting of a P1,000 genuine bill and 25 pieces of boodle money, drug paraphernalia, a black motorcycle without license plate and midnight green Toyota Hi-Lux allegedly used in transporting drugs.
The arrested suspects were presented for inquest proceedings before the Caloocan City Prosecutor’s Office on charges for selling, possession, conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia under Article II of R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
