British national and his Filipina girlfriend arrested: They were allegedly selling Ecstacy inside a disco in Mandaue City

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested a British national and his Filipina girlfriend who were allegedly selling some tablets of Ecstacy inside a disco bar in Mantuyong, Mandaue City yesterday dawn.

Kevin Felix Heins Andrew Tauber, 52, and his live-in-partner, Anna Manas, 28, were caught in a buy-bust operation. They claimed to be residing at Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City.

Insp. Henrix Bancoleta, who led the operation, said in an interview that they conducted the buy-bust operation at the International Bar Complex, which the foreigner co-owns, at past 3 a.m.

The team was composed of operatives of the City Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group of the Mandaue City Police Office.

Bancoleta said a police decoy acted as the poseur-buyer by pretending to buy a tablet of the illegal drug for P1,000. The decoy “transacted” with Manas at the table.

Bancoleta said Manas stood up and approached Tauber, who supplied the tablet.

The police arrested the suspects at this point. The police also seized the two’s cellular phone and passports.

A brief commotion occurred when the female dancers scampered away thinking that the police raided the bar, Bancoleta said.

Bancoleta added they also recovered six plastics packs which contained 15 to 20 tablets believed to be Ecstacy. He said each tablet could amount to P1,000 to P2,000, depending on the brand.

Once used, Ecstacy can make a person more energized. The tablets also help men have an arousal.

“Gi-bawal na sa balaod kay naa na’y mga dangerous effects,” Bancoleta told The FREEMAN. (This drug is illegal because of its dangerous effects.)

Bancoleta said they placed the suspects under surveillance for about two weeks to one month. The suspects, he said, are confirmed to have been selling Ecstacy.

The foreigner, who claimed to have been living in the country for four years, refused to comment when asked by the operatives about the illegal drugs, Bancoleta said.

The British national is temporarily detained at the Centro Police Station while Manas is at the Subangdaku Police Station.

A charge for possession and selling of illegal drugs will be filed against them on Tuesday, Bancoleta added. — (FREEMAN)