Suspected pusher nabbed in Malabon

MANILA, Philippines - Northern Police District (NPD) anti-illegal drugs police officers arrested an alleged pusher during an operation in Malabon City Friday.

Chief Inspector Arnold Thomas Ibay, NPD-District Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group chief said his men confiscated from Joseph Sta. Cruz, 42, a resident of Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City three sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

Sta. Cruz was charged with drug pushing (no bail) and illegal possession of illegal drugs, with bail set at P200,000, before the office of Caloocan City assistant prosecutor Rennet Evangelista.

Police Officer 3 Ariosto Rana said Sta. Cruz was caught while handing a sachet of shabu to a police officer. He said police officers frisked Sta. Cruz and found two more sachets of shabu in his pocket.

 “We finally got him after several attempts,” Rana told The STAR yesterday.

According to Rana, the suspect is included in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s list of suspected pushers operating in the northern part of the metropolis.