‘Shabu queens’ nabbed in Caloocan, Parañaque

Police operatives have arrested two women dubbed as "shabu queens" in separate raids in Caloocan and Parañaqueyesterday.

A 58-year-old woman on probation and out on bail for a previous case of illegal drug possession was arrested by intelligence agents on two counts of drug trafficking in a buy-bust operation in Caloocan City.

On the same day, a 51-year-old woman was also nabbed in Parañaque for the same offense.

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri lauded the team of Chief Inspector Crisencio Galvez, city police intelligence branch chief, for the arrest of Elizabeth "Bechay" Canaviral, of Peras corner Anonas St., Panday Compound, Barangay 142, Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City in a buy-bust operation at around 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Ronald Estilles, Parañaque police chief, said the arrested suspect nabbed was Elsie Conche, alias Mama Elsie, a resident of Lim compound in Barangay San Dionisio.

He said elements of station anti-illegal drugs-special operation task force swooped down on the compound and conducted a raid which led to the arrest of Conche at around 9:30 p.m.

Canaviral, on the other hand, refused to talk at first but when prodded byEcheverri, she pointed to a certain "Totoy Bato" as her "bigtime supplier."

She also claimed that she was only tempted to sell shabu because two of her grandchildren were sick.

The woman, who is a former fish vendor, told The STAR she was supporting her six grown-up children, all married, and her grandchildren who are staying with her. She said she has no other source of livelihood.

Seized from Canaviral were two sachets of shabu, which is part of an inventory with a street value of P2,000 she allegedly keeps.

Felimon de Leon, Barangay 142 chairman, said Canaviral had long been engaged in the illegal trade and the subject of complaints in his area.

He said even a past raid by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) did not yield anything.

From Conche, police recovered four pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu.