ANGELES CITY – Police operatives confiscated P2.4 million worth of dried marijuana leaves during a buy-bust in Bgy. Balibago here last Sunday night.
Col. Rommel Batangan, officer-in-charge of the city police here, said the operation also led to the arrest of Marion Raymundo, 19, a high value target, and Benhur Buenaventura, 19, both residents of Bgy. Balibago.
Elements of the City Intelligence Unit, Police Station 4, and Police Station 6, and PDEA conducted the buy-bust against Raymundo who was known as the local distributor of marijuana here.
The suspects were arrested after they sold one a pack of suspected marijuana leaves to a poseur buyer.
During the arrest, Buenaventura resisted and ran inside his residence which prompted the arresting officers to chase the suspect. Inside the house, the operatives discovered two boxes containing 21 bricks of dried marijuana leaves packed in plastic wrap.
Confiscated from Raymundo were the P2,000 pre-marked money.
The dried marijuana leaves had a total estimated weight of 20.45 kilos with DDB value amounting to P2,448,000.
Mandatory witnesses were requested for inventory and marking of evidence in compliance with Sec. 21 of RA 9165. The arrested suspect and pieces of evidence were brought to Police Station 6for documentation and proper disposition. Complaint for Viol of Sec 5, Sec.11 and Sec. 15 ART II of RA 9165 were filed against the suspects at Angeles City Prosecutor’s Office.
Meanwhile, authorities also arrested one Vener Nulud, 53, a resident of Bgy. Mining here who has a standing warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 9165 with no bail recommended.
Police said the suspect is an alleged member of the Espinola Criminal Group engaged in drug trafficking and gunrunning in Angeles City, adjacent towns and cities and is also included in the Recalibrated Priority Data Base on Illegal Drugs,.
