Bicol cops bust fish dealers turned drug traffickers
TWO fish dealers said to be involved in illegal drug trafficking in Bicol region were arrested by the local police in a buy-bust operation in Sorsogon City Friday morning, Police Regional Office 5 director Brigadier General Jonnel C. Estomo said.
The suspects were identified as Alexander Odo, 35, resident of Bgy. Manlabong, Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon, and his driver Juan Paulo Manumbale, 33, of Bgy. San Juan, Irosin.
According to Estomo, the two were placed under surveillance by undercover officers from the PRO5 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, Regional Intelligence Division and Regional Special Operations Unit and the Sorsogon City Police Station amid persistent information that they were using their fish delivery business as a ‘front’ to sneak in drugs coming from Metro Manila to different parts of Bicol region.
The official said that at around 6 a.m. Friday, the two were arrested during a sting which took place inside their 10-wheeler truck parked in Bgy. San Juan Roro in Sorsogon City.
The two were placed under arrest shortly after they conspired to sell P5,000 worth of shabu to an undercover officer. Recovered from the duo were the drugs and the buy-bust money.
The suspect’s truck with plate No. CAP 3670 containing styrofoam boxes was impounded by the local police.
Estomo said they got the information that the two have gained notoriety for selling shabu in different parts of Sorsogon and Naga and Legazpi cities, apparently taking advantage of their status as Authorized Persons Outside Residence to easily pass thru quarantine checkpoints.
