4 caught selling cocaine at 80% off

MANILA, Philippines - Four men were arrested in Quezon City yesterday for allegedly trying to sell one kilo of cocaine for P1 million, 80 percent lower than its street value of P5 million.

Superintendent Ismael Fajardo Jr. of the police Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force believes the cocaine was part of a shipment dumped by a passing vessel in the waters off Samar, “that’s why it is being sold at a much lower price.”

Ezlee Timonera, Rico Dimayuga, Alfredo Vicente Camp Hahn and Chris San Pedro were arrested in a drug bust led by Inspector James Nepomuceno along Tomas Morato Extension at around 4 p.m.

San Pedro denied the allegations, saying he and Dimayuga were set up. He even claimed he did not know Timonera and Hahn.

“It’s not ours. I have never been involved in any drug case in the past,” he said in Filipino.

According to San Pedro, the contraband belonged to a certain Mike, who fled in a sport utility vehicle. He said Mike was just introduced to them by a certain Bob, who was Dimayuga’s officemate.

Fajardo said they are still checking if any of the suspects have links to drug syndicates.