Drug bust in Malabon

A suspected big-time drug pusher was arrested last Sunday in Malabon with more than a kilo of dried marijuana leaves, police officials said yesterday.

Superintendent Pete Ramos, city police chief, identified the suspect as Edwin Tacadina, 30, of 65 Banana Road, Barangay Potrero. He was presented at the Northern Police District office headquarters yesterday.

At around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Malabon City police officers, led by PO2 Alexander Cabucal and PO1 Eduardo Oftana, were conducting a routine patrol along Banana Road when they spotted the suspect alighting from a tricycle.

Inspector Edcel Canals, Malabon City police Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) chief, said the policemen approached Tacadina, who was carrying a blue bag.

The suspect tried to flee but was immediately cornered by the police officers.

Policemen found two bricks of dried marijuana leaves inside the bag, Canals said.

During interrogation, the suspect told the police he bought the 1.5 kilos of marijuana leaves from his supplier known only as "Mando" also of Barangay Potrero.

"We went to the house of Tacadina’s alleged supplier but found out that it was already abandoned by its occupants," Canals said.

He said the man tagged by Tacadina as his supplier is in the watchlist of the DEU’s suspected big-time drug traffickers in Malabon City.

Northern Police District director Senior Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr. commended Ramos and his men for Tacadina’s arrest. Police were set to file charges against Tacadina with the Malabon City prosecutor’s office. – Pete Laude