Suspected drug dealer rapped for ‘Ecstasy’ pills

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently filed drug charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against a 36-year-old suspected drug peddler who was recently arrested for allegedly selling party drugs popularly known as "Ecstasy pills."

Oscar del Pilar was arrested in a buy-bust operation by NBI agents at his Quezon City residence on Jan. 27.

Del Pilar has allegedly been selling the pills for the last two or three years, officials said.

"The selling of the illegal drugs Ecstacy is getting worse in Metro Manila. The party drugs cater to rich high school students, college students, and even those in the entertainment business. They would then go to private rooms, videoke bars," according to assistant regional director Oscar Embido, chief of the NBI’s Anti-Organized Crime Division.

He added they set up the buy-bust operation after they received information that a certain "Sherwin" and "Mike" were reportedly selling the pills.

Through mobile phone text messages, NBI agents arranged the purchase of 10 pills, each worth P600.

They were supposed to meet on Jan. 26 at a fastfood outlet in Ortigas Center, Pasig but Del Pilar said he ran out of supplies and suggested that they meet at his house instead. He was arrested after the payoff.

Embido said follow-up operations are currently being conducted. "Del Pilar is only a courier. We have yet to determine the source. These drugs were not manufactured here in the country, they were illegally brought in from China and Thailand."