Drug dealer nabbed in Malabon buy-bust

Police arrested an alleged member of a drug syndicate that has been supplying marijuana to the northern part of Metro Manila during a buy-bust operation last Friday night in Malabon City.

Senior Superintendent Moises "Kamagong" Guevarra, Malabon City police chief, said Ricofael Sarmiento, 26, yielded a brick of dried marijuana leaves weighing more than half a kilo, 14 plastic sachets containing marijuana leaves and a weighing scale.

Malabon anti-narcotics agents conducted a buy-bust operation at the suspect’s house in Barangay Ibaba at around 9 p.m. PO2 Wilfredo Leonor posed as a buyer during the operation.

Team leader SPO2 Alberto Nepomuceno Jr. said Sarmiento was arrested after handing over two sachets of marijuana to Leonor.

When frisked, Sarmiento’s pockets yielded at least 12 more sachets. A search of his room resulted in the recovery of a blue bag that contained a brick of dried marijuana leaves.

Police said Sarmiento is a member of a group whose alleged leader, Ronaldo Royo, was arrested in a recent operation in Barangay Potrero.

Police confiscated from the suspect at least three kilos of marijuana.