3 bigtime pushers fall in CIIB raid

Three suspected bigtime drug pushers were caught during a raid conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch in sitio Dita, barangay Pulangbato yesterday dawn.

Crisilda Minoza, Arestone and Demosthenes Bontuyan were arrested on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Meinrado Paredes. A fourth suspect, Joseph Velasques, eluded arrest.

CIIB operatives recovered four medium plastic pack of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia from Velasques' house, 20 small packs of shabu and drug paraphernalia from Demosthenes' house, and seven medium packs of shabu from the house of Minoza.

At least 13 medium packs of shabu were also seized from the house of Arestone. CIIB chief Paul Labra revealed that each of the suspects could dispose of 50 to 200 grams of shabu a week.

Talamban police chief Marlou Martinez said that those who were arrested were among the 10 major drug pushers operating in sitio Dita, dubbed as little Pasil for being the center of drug dealing in mountain barangays.

Of the 80 barangays in the city, 59 have been affected by illegal drugs, 14 of which were seriously affected. Police records revealed that those seriously affected barangays are Carreta, Kamagayan, Lorega-San Miguel, T. Padilla, Camputhaw, Mabolo, Ermita, Calamba, Pasil, Sawang Calero, Suba, Labangon, Duljo-fatima, and Mambaling. - Ryan P. Borinaga