Police arrest fried banana vendor for selling "shabu"

CEBU, Philippines - Shabu placed in 13 packets were seized from a banana cue vendor in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (PAIDSOTG) operatives Thursday night in Beatriz Durano St., barangay Poblacion, Danao City.

Manuel “Mawi” Taneo, 27, started to clean his banana cue stall along the road when an operative, who refused to be named, approached him and bought one packet of shabu.

Taneo handed over the alleged shabu to the operative in exchange for the marked P200.

The operative then made a signal which resulted to the arrest of Taneo, who was reportedly under the influence of drugs at that time.

Taneo reportedly resisted arrest but was overpowered.

Pieces of evidence recovered were taken to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug for analysis.

Taneo is now detained at the Danao City stockade.

Operatives said Taneo was a known drug pusher in the barangay and could dispose of not less than P100,000 worth of illegal drugs in a week.

Operatives said the Taneo family was involved in illegal drugs as a business.

Taneo’s mother, Alfreda Taneo, was arrested by the PAIDSOTG for the same offense a few years back in barangay Poblacion.

Alfreda Taneo has pending charges for illegal drugs in Danao City and in the PAIDSOTG. She was once detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

The mother is now jailed in the Danao City Jail. (FREEMAN)