3 drug traffickers nabbed in Laguna

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — Acting on complaints of rampant drug pushing in Lumban and Sta. Cruz, Laguna, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted a series of buy-bust operations yesterday, resulting in the arrest of three drug traffickers.

Police also seized several sachets of shabu worth P125,000 during the operations.

Police Superintendent Abe Lemos, PDEA-Calabarzon regional director, identified the suspects as Ariel Palacol, 38, alias Ariel, a resident of Palacol Compound, Barangay Pagsawitan, Sta. Cruz, Laguna; Gilda Devera, 34, and Rodrigo Devera, both residents of Maytalang, Lumban, Laguna.

Lemos said the suspects were listed in the PDEA watchlist — Gilda is listed as number 4 drug suspect in Laguna while Ariel is number 1 on the watchlist in Sta. Cruz town and number 6 in Region 4.

Police reports showed that at around 6:30 a.m. yesterday, Gilda and Rodrigo delivered a bag containing shabu along the vicinity of a Shell gasoline station, in Sta. Cruz.

One of the suspects accepted the P50,000 marked money from PDEA agents who acted as poseur-buyers, prompting the police to immediately arrest the suspects.

Another PDEA team headed by Chief Inspector Raul Bargamento nabbed Ariel inside Palacol Compound, in Barangay Sta. Cruz at around 7:30 a.m. He was caught in the act of selling shabu to PDEA agents.

All suspects are now detained at PDEA-Calabarzon headquarters.