2 nabbed in Ecstasy buy-bust

A management student and his companion were arrested last Thursday when they were caught with 400 Ecstasy tablets worth P600,000 during a buy-bust operation in Pasig City.

Elements of the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) under Director Marcelo Ele Jr. also seized a Mitsubishi Pajero which suspects Francis Morales Braza, 20, and Marco Alberto Jacinto de la Rama, 24, had been using in their drug dealing.

Ele said Braza, a management student at a Pasig university, and De la Rama belong to a group behind the proliferation of Ecstasy tables in exclusive schools, posh subdivisions, nightclubs and karaoke bars in Pasig City.

The AIDSOTF commander said his men had arranged a buy-bust operation to pin Braza and De la Rama last December, but it yielded negative results. "Nasunog kami," said Superintendent Jojo Acierto, head of the AIDSOTF Special Operations Unit 3.

At 3 p.m. last Thursday, Acierto and his team positioned themselves at the parking lot of the Champagne Edition Condominium located along Saint Jose Maria Escriva Drive in Pasig City while one of them arranged for the purchase of 300 Ecstasy tablets from Braza.

After receiving the tablets, the officer gave the pre-arranged signal for Acierto and his men to pounce on the suspects.

De la Rama rushed out of the Pajero (UNC 870) to flee, but was cornered by AIDSOTF operatives after a brief chase.

Recovered inside the Pajero was a sachet containing another 100 tablets hidden in the console box on the front seat.

Ecstasy, which is popularly known as party drug, is being patronized by young people from wealthy families.

Ele said the drug, which gained popularity as a recreational drug in the US, is a familiar commodity in "rave parties" that usually take place at school grounds during school fairs.

He said Ecstasy is often sold at P1,500 per tablet to young urban professionals.

The AIDSOTF chief pointed out that use of Ecstasy can lead to permanent changes in brain chemistry, liver damage, severe dehydration, sudden increase of blood pressure and heart rate.

"Ecstasy has already resulted in thousands of overdoses in the US and Europe that led to numerous deaths," Ele pointed out.

Acierto said Braza and De la Rama are now undergoing tactical interrogation at the AIDSOTF headquarters in Camp Crame.

"We are trying to find out where they get their supply and the names of their clients," said Acierto, who added that he expects the arrest of other syndicate members soon. – Non Alquitran, Cecille Suerte Felipe