2 drug couriers nabbed in Dagupan

DAGUPAN CITY -- Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested last Tuesday two illegal drug couriers from Manila in front of a fastfood chain at Barangay Lucao in the city.

Seized from the suspects during the buy-bust operation were two plastics bags containing suspected shabu weighing 83.60 grams with a street value of about P500,000.

Mayor Benjamin Lim and PDEA Ilocos Region Director Roybel Sanchez held a press conference here Wednesday afternoon where they showed to the media the seized illegal drugs and the two suspects whose faces were fully covered.

The two suspects were identified as Emily Fernandez, 48, and Kim Gama, 22, both from Manila. The two allegedly travelled to Dagupan City via bus transport.

The suspects casually placed the illegal substance in a paper gift bag, Sanchez said. The seized items were submitted for laboratory testing Wednesday morning, he added.

Aside from the shabu, also confiscated from the two were the three P500 bill marked money and three bundles of boodle money.

Lim said the two admitted during their close door talk inside his office before the press conference that the women get instructions from their contact in Manila through text message. And that somebody from Dagupan fetched them from the bus station at Perez Boulevard.

Sanchez said they are conducting follow-up operations to unearth the two women's local contact.

Meanwhile, Lim said such news may place the city in bad light, but they are taking these accomplishments against illegal drugs positively.

"It is better do something, to discover something, and to apprehend someone, rather than hearing things at wala tayong ginanawa. Kaya seguro maraming nahuhuli ngayon ay dahil maraming concerned citizens ang nagsusumbong ngayon at nagbibigay ng impormasyon sa mga otoridad," he remarked.

A case of violation of Section 5 in relation with Section 26 of Article II, Republic Act 9165 is now being prepared for filing against the suspects. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre)