‘Bigtime pushers’ fall in Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines – An estimated P150,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized when four "bigtime" pushers were arrested in separate buy-bust operations conducted by two police stations in Mandaue City last Sunday.

The raids were conducted in the respective residences of four suspects after the police were able to secure a search warrant against them signed by Executive Judge Teresita Abarquez Galanida of the RTC Branch 56 of Mandaue City.

First to fall into the hands of the police was Nino "Nilo" Marababol, 46, a resident of Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City, who was arrested for possession of three big and 24 small packs believed to be shabu with an estimated street value of P100,770.

Police also confiscated drug paraphernalia from the suspect.

Police Senior Inspector Jimmy Aguisanda, chief of Centro Police Station, tagged him as level 2 drug pusher who could dispose two big packs of shabu per week.

Meanwhile, some P50,000 worth of illegal drugs were also seized by operatives of Casuntingan Police Station when they conducted separate drug raids against three siblings in Sitio Little Tokyo in Barangay Maguikay early morning that day.

Leo Capuyan, 50, and his brothers Epifanio Capuyan III, 25, and Edison Capuyan, 35, all married residing in said place, were separately arrested by police operatives.

Casuntingan police divided themselves in two teams and then carried out the raid.

Police Inspector Rey Delos Santos, deputy chief of Casuntingan police, raided the house of Leo at 5 a.m. and found a medium pack of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia and an undocumented .38 revolver with live ammunition.

The other team led by Police Senior Inspector Philip Silva raided the house of Edison and Epifanio a few meters away in same barangay.

Police were able to confiscate a medium pack of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia from them.

Silva tagged these brothers as level 3 drug pushers who could dispose below 100 grams per week.

The three siblings are presently detained at the Casuntingan Police Station pending the filing of charges against them in relation to Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.