3 arrested with kilo of shabu in Malate bust

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza yesterday lauded the Manila police for the arrest of three persons and the seizure of a kilo of shabu in a buy-bust operation in Malate, Manila, boosting the City’s campaign against illegal drugs.

In a statement, Atienza congratulated the anti-narcotics operatives of Malate under its station commander, Superintendent Amador Pabustan, for the arrest of Joselito Noque, 49, who yielded a plastic bag of shabu containing the illegal substance. A kilo of shabu has a street value of P2 million.

"I would like to commend Supt. Pabustan and the members of his anti-narcotics team for their efforts. Once again, we are sending a strong message to these merchants of death that we will not stop until we have driven all of them out of Manila," said Atienza.

Pabustan’s report to the mayor also showed the arrest of spouses, Ariel 31, and Aida Bansao, 30, who were reportedly caught sniffing shabu in the house of Noque during the entrapment operation.

The operation was conducted at about 9 a.m. on Noque’s residence at 630 San Andres st. after the lawmen received a tip on the illegal activity of the suspect. Surveillance confirmed the report, prompting operatives to make a deal with Noque through one of their assets.

After the purchase of the kilo of shabu was completed, the police poseur-buyer gave the signal to his colleagues positioned outside the house and the arrests were effected. Pabustan said Noque is linked to an organized drug group in the Muslim community in Quiapo.

It was the second successful operation in two weeks by the Manila police. Earlier, the Sampaloc police nabbed another big-time drug pusher from whom 289 grams of shabu was seized.