POLICE arrested a family who has allegedly been in the illegal drug business for 14 years.
They conducted the buy-bust against the Tampus couple in Sitio Ibabao Agus, Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City.
Taken into custody were Jasmin, 45, and her husband Edgar, 42. Their son Rodel, 21, was also arrested. All three are jobless.
Members of the Lapu-Lapu City Police (LLCP) Station 4 confiscated three medium and nine small packs of suspected shabu from the suspects.
The haul has an estimate value of about P100,000, according to the Dangerous Drugs Board.
PO2 Ronald Salimbot said they have been monitoring the family since they are known in the barangay for their involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Under surveillance
Police Insp. Alcon Escusora led the operation at 5:20 p.m.
After receiving reports about the family’s illegal activities, Escusora said they were placed under surveillance for two weeks. The station also coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, he said.
Escusora was accompanied by SPO3 Nonilon Estonilo Jr., PO3 Antonio Inihao Jr., PO3 Rosvelt Matuog and PO2 Michael Sean Copias during the operation.
Police first arrested Jasmin after she handed a small pack of shabu to a poseur-buyer.
Seized in her possession were three medium and five small packs of shabu, five P100 bills and a cellular phone.
Seized from her son Rodel were four small sachets of shabu.
In a radio dyAB report, Jasmin admitted that they have been selling drugs since 2001.
All three family members will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The suspects are temporarily detained in LLCP Office detention cell, while waiting for their cases to be filed.
Admission
In Toledo City last Monday night, police arrested a 42-year-old mother of six and seized more than P600,000 worth of illegal drugs from her during a buy-bust in Barangay Don Juan Climaco Sr.
Insp. Jovito Labra identified the suspect as Esterlita Abella Canceller, who is allegedly a level 3 drug pusher. She could allegedly dispose of more than 100 grams of shabu per week.
Canceller, during an interview with police, admitted that her supply of illegal drugs comes from Muntinlupa, Labra said.
Labra’s team confiscated eight packs of shabu in different sizes from the suspect.
The contraband weighing 55 grams is worth P609,000, according to estimates by the Dangerous Drugs Board.
Before the arrest happened at 8:10 p.m., Labra said they placed Canceller under surveillance for more than a month.
Most of the suspect’s customers--motorcycle-for-hire drivers and truck boys--would often buy shabu at her house in the interior portion of Sitio Panog.
Canceller allegedly started selling illegal drugs in 2011.
Also last Monday, suspected drug pusher Jeffrey Gian, 35, and his wife Gina, 48, were arrested at 5:58 a.m. in Danao City.
Operatives of City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group seized more than 30 grams of shabu and 100 grams of dried marijuana leaves from the suspects.
Danao City Police Deputy Chief Anecito Manloloyo said the contraband they seized has an estimated street value of more than P300,000.
Aside from illegal drugs, police also seized from the suspects were three weighing scales, a magazine for a .45 pistol and drug paraphernalia.