Farmer arrested with 18 packs of suspected shabu

CEBU, Philippines - A 50-year-old farmer was arrested after he yielded several packs of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Candabong, Alcantara town on Wednesday.

Operatives from Provincial Intelligence Branch led by PO3 Renaldo Solante arrested Romeo Delatado Matilos in a buy-bust operation conducted outside his house at around 5:30 p.m. The operation was in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7.

One of the operatives acted as poseur-buyer and transacted with the suspect for the P500-worth pack of the prohibited drug.

Immediately after the suspect received the marked money, the operatives arrested him and confiscated from his possession the subject of the sale, a medium-sized pack of the suspected shabu, placed inside a tansan (bottle crown).

Also recovered from his possession were 10 other packs of the said substance all also placed inside folded bottle crowns. Eight of the packs were medium-sized while the rest were sealed in large packs.

A bladed bolo, which he allegedly uses in farming, was also recovered from the suspect.

Solante was arrested and detained at the PIB detention cell while waiting for the criminal charges that will be filed against him.

The plastic packs of suspected shabu recovered from him were taken to the PNP Crime Laboratory-7 for chemical analysis.  (FREEMAN)