Woman “drug courier” arrested in checkpoint

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged female drug courier was arrested by San Nicolas police in a checkpoint where 240 small packs of suspected shabu was confiscated from her past 1 p.m. on Friday in Carlock Street, Corner Tupas, Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City.

Belen Baron Sagarino of Barangay Ermita was arrested after she tried to run away from police officers in a checkpoint.

In an interview with Senior Inspector Chuck Barandog, San Nicolas Police Station chief, he said that Sagarino told them during the custodial interrogation that she came from Barangay Bulacao to pick up the drugs and was supposed to deliver it to Barangay Ermita.

Sagarino told the police that she took a taxi from Bulacao to Ermita but she had to take a “habal-habal” because the taxi’s tire was flat but in the second stroke of bad luck, the “habal-habal” driver decided to drive towards Carlock Street where the police were conducting checkpoint.

The police officers asked the driver of the motorcycle since he was not wearing a helmet and was only wearing slippers.

But the police were surprised when Sagarino jumped off from the motorcycle and tried to flag down a taxi.

Barandog said that they grew more suspicious because Sagarino was bringing a backpack as if she was a student but was a bit too old for a normal student.

“Nagduda na gyud hinoon ang mga tawo nato kay nagdala ug  bag pack unya Sabado man to, dili pud siguro to matawag nga estudiyante siya,” Barandog said.

The police, lead by Inspector Alejandro Lopez, were able to get hold of the Sagarino and asked her to open the bag where they saw 240 packs of shabu worth P177,000 placed inside a white paper bag.

Sagarino told police officers of the name of her supplier in Bulacao and mentioned the name of a known drug lord in Ermita. 

“Ilado na kaayo na’ng sa Ermita, gi-check namo sa Station 5, amo na lang gi-relay sa respective police station ang info nga nakuha namo,” Barandog added.

If Sagarino was able to deliver the drugs to Ermita, she told police that she would have earned P5,000. She also told police that it was her first time to be involved in the illegal activity.

But Barandog said that when they verified the Sagarino’s record, he said that she is known to be a drug pusher in Ermita.

 “Ang defense mechanism niya first time pa daw niya pero maila ra kaayo nga season na g’yud,” Barandog added.

The suspect is currently detained at the San Nicolas Police and will be facing a charge for possession of illegal drugs.  (FREEMAN)