By KATE LOUISE B. JAVIER
Around P22 million worth of shabu and marijuana were seized from seven alleged members of an international drug syndicate during a buy-bust operation Sunday morning in Caloocan City.
Joint operatives from the Northern Police District’s Drug Enforcement Unit and Special Operations Unit arrested the suspects identified as Lemar Garzon, 25 years old of Caloocan City who is the said leader of the group; Aries Taglada, 27, of Caloocan City; Richard Romoquillo, 22, of Navotas City; Jayson Estrada, 22, of Cavite City; Renz Geron, 23, of Navotas City; Edward Cruz, 32, of Malabon City; and Eduardo Tan, 32, of Navotas City. All are jobless.
NPD-SOU chief Sr. Inspector Robert Bunayog said the seven are said to be affiliated with the dreaded Sinaloan Mexican drug cartel.
“Their transactions are being done through electronic. They order items from America and used bitcoins for payment,” said Bunayog.
The team first conducted a buy-bust operation against Tan in Barangay 12 around 3:30 a.m.
Tan However insisted to go to their alleged drug den in Barangay Pagala in Baliuwag, Bulacan as the poseur-buyer ordered at least one kilo of shabu.
After the poseur-buyer handed over the buy-bust money worth P500,000, the team swooped down inside the alleged drug den around 7 a.m.
Police seized seven packs of suspected shabu weighing eight kilograms worth P20 million, two kilos of dried marijuana worth P2 million, an M-16 rifle, a sub-machine gun, two caliber. 45 pistol, a caliber .9mm, assorted ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
Bunayog said the suspects later on admitted their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Meanwhile, Bunayog revealed that Tan and Estrada, who worked as the group’s hitmen, have previous warrants of arrest for murder and homicide cases respectively.
“When their clients don’t remit the right amount of money, they will kill them,” Bunayog said.
Appropriate charges will be filed against the eight men who are now detained at the NPD detention cell.
