Drug dealer falls with P500,000 cache

THE fifth drug personality in the target list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)–Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) who has been reported as the leader of a newly identified drug group in Baguio City was pinned down in a raid at his house in broad daylight last Saturday.

Various sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” estimated at an overall street cost of P54,500 and assorted paraphernalia for packaging and use of the prohibited drug were seized from the subject’s room, reportedly being utilized by him and his group for the repackaging, selling and using of shabu.

Repackaging is actually a phase of the manufacturing process of dangerous drugs.

Confiscated in the warranted search were approximately 6.80 grams of shabu placed in five, heat-sealed, transparent plastic sachets; one transparent plastic sachet containing meth residues; one canister of butane gas; numerous, still unused, transparent plastic sachets; one digital, pocket weighing scale for shabu; one improvised burner; two pairs of scissor; one roll of aluminum foil; and one lighter.

However, the reported firearms of the subject were not found in his room during the implementation of the search warrant and that his goon was able to escape.

Edmar Buscagan, alias “Tuts,” 44, married, college undergraduate, dog breeder, and a native of Baguio City, was apprehended during the service of search warrant by PDEA–CAR in a room at his residence at No. 012, Balsigan, Baguio City around 11 a.m. of September 22.

Buscagan’s group was about to be included in the list of local drug groups in CAR in the upcoming Cordillera Regional Drug Situation Validation Workshop, but with its leader’s arrest, the group is now deemed neutralized.

Allegedly, the Buscagan drug group is mostly composed of Edmar’s relatives; utilizing minors as couriers or runners; supplying Guest Relations Officers and palengke boys in Baguio City; involved in other crimes such as but not limited to frustrated murder, physical injury and domestic violence; associated with one of the notorious Nider brothers, who are known top drug personalities in the city; among others.

Barangay officials in Buscagan’s community are amenable that he, and his family members and other relatives have long been problematic constituents.

Criminal cases for Violations of Republic Act 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), specifically Manufacture and Possession of Dangerous Drugs, and Possession of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus and Other Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs will be filed in court against Buscagan. (PR)