A GRAB driver involved in illegal drug peddling allegedly swallowed evidence during a drug sting conducted by police in an apartelle in Quezon City, Sunday night.
Superintendent Giovanni Caliao, Quezon City Police Station 7 chief, identified the arrested suspect as Kristofer Gavino, 35, a resident of Sampaloc, Manila.
Prior to his arrest, Gavino had been under police surveillance for months after being tagged as a newly identified drug user and peddler of illegal drugs within Cubao area.
Police report showed that an undercover cop purchased P500 worth of shabu from Gavino inside a room of an apartelle on P. Tuazon Boulevard in Barangay San Roque at around 9 p.m.
After the transaction, responding police immediately collared Gavino.
Senior Inspector Ramon Aquiatan, head of PS-7 Drug Enforcement Unit, said Gavino allegedly swallowed undetermined amount of shabu upon learning that he was dealing with a police poseur-buyer.
With this, operatives were only able to recover nine small heat-sealed sachets of shabu, the marked money and a mobile phone.
Gavino is now under police custody and will be charged with selling and possession of dangerous drugs.
Meanwhile, Grab Philippines Public Affairs head Leo Gonzales said in a statement that Gavino was automatically deactivated from their platform, adding that they “will not take things like this lightly.”
“Grab does not tolerate any criminal activity by any of our partners. We will fully cooperate with any investigation through our security and safety team,” Gonzales said.
Upon confirmation, Gonzales said the suspect will be “perpetually banned” and blacklisted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to prevent him from driving any public utility vehicle. (Alexandria San Juan)
