PDEA BUY-BUSTS NET 6 DRUG PUSHERS; SHABU, CAPSULIZED ECSTASY SEIZED

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested six drug pushers in the act of selling dangerous drugs during two separate buy-bust operations conducted last night, December 5, 2011, in Manila and Makati, which led to the confiscation of shabu and capsulized ecstasy.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. identified the arrested suspects as Mark Anthony Jacinto, Wilfredo Riquez, Myra Francisco, Yuri Derain-Minagawa, Quintin Fernandez, and Christian Niño de Leon.

The first buy-bust operation was conducted by elements of PDEA National Capital Region, under Director Perdito Magsino, in a popular fast-food chain along Pablo Ocampo Sr. Street, Ermita, Manila at about 5:00 pm. This resulted in the arrest of Anthony Jacinto, 19; Wilfredo Riquez, 30; and Myra Francisco, 41. A total of 50 grams of shabu were confiscated by PDEA agents from the suspects.

Meanwhile, another team from PDEA-NCR conducted a buy-bust operation along Vic Arnaiz Street, Makati City around 9pm. Arrested during this operation were Yuri Derain-Minagawa, a Filipino-Japanese, 24; Quintin Fernandez, 31; and Christian Niño de Leon, 31. The suspects yielded 10 pieces of capsulized ecstasy.

“The ecstasy confiscated [from the suspects] is a variation from the usual tablet from. This just shows that these illegal drug personalities are becoming more creative, producing a derivative to avoid detection,” Gutierrez said, adding that the main market for the capsulized ecstasy, sold at P1,000 each, are affluent youth and young professionals.

All six suspects are presently detained at the PDEA-NCR detention facility and charges for selling and conspiracy to sell illegal drugs are being filed in court for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Evangeline DJ Almenario, Chief, Public Information Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency