DRUG paraphernalia are already being sold in online shopping sites as claimed by a nurse and pharmacist who were arrested in separate drug busts Wednesday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.
PDEA Director Aaron Aquino said the nurse and a pharmacist who were arrested in separate drug busts Wednesday, September 18, claimed that they purchased improvised tooters from online shopping sites. Each tooter costs around P2,500.
"Bakit sila nagbebenta ng ganyan, ng tooter? Noong una, my operatives do not believe na this kind of improvised drug paraphernalia is being sold in that particular seller, until such time na nakita nga nila na nagbebenta ng improvised drug paraphernalia," Aquino said.
"I'll just wait their explanation first. Kung ano't ano man ang kalalabasan noon, we will file a case against them. It was just discovered this morning. Imposible na may pumapasok diyan na hindi nila alam eh," he added.
Aquino said this has led to suspicions that illegal drugs transactions are also being done through online shopping sites.
Anti-narcotics operatives arrested Juan Carlos Reyes Antonio, a licensed pharmacist, around 2:30 a.m. in a hotel in Pasig City and Nilo Manipon Ramirez Jr., a registered nurse, at around 4:20 a.m. in Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City.
Allegedly recovered from Antonio were various illegal drugs including marijuana, ecstasy tablets and liquid ecstasy with estimated value of P55,000 as well as drug paraphernalia.
Seized from Ramirez, meanwhile, were suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) and ecstasy tablets worth around P140,000 and other drug paraphernalia.
Aquino said the suspects’ target market is the young professional sector.
During interrogation, Aquino said the suspects admitted purchasing drug paraphernalia, particularly the improvised tooter recovered during the operation, from online shopping sites. Each tooter costs around P2,500.
"Bakit sila nagbebenta ng ganyan, ng tooter? Noong una, my operatives do not believe na this kind of improvised drug paraphernalia is being sold in that particular seller, until such time na nakita nga nila na nagbebenta ng improvised drug paraphernalia," Aquino said.
"I'll just wait (for) their explanation first. Kung ano't ano man ang kalalabasan noon, we will file a case against them. It was just discovered this morning. Imposible na may pumapasok diyan na hindi nila alam eh," he added. (SunStar Philippines)