THE wife of an inmate, who received 30 coconuts containing illegal drugs, was arrested which lead to the identities of four other suspects.
On Sunday, May 7, an estimated P11-million worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as “shabu,” concealed in coconuts were seized inside the Dumaguete City District Jail in Negros Oriental.
Netchy Catan was arrested at Barangay Batingil last May 12 by joint operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch, Special Operations Group and Dumaguete City Police Station in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The police obtained a search warrant to enter Catan’s house where they seized 11 sachets of shabu worth P44,000, a tinfoil, and an improvised scooper.
Negros Oriental Police Provincial Intelligence Division Head Alvin Futalan on Sunday, May 14, said Netchy Calan, 13, is the wife of Joram Catan who was supposed to receive the illegal drugs hidden inside the coconut.
Futalan said the woman was traced by the authorities after a copy of a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage from the city jail was uploaded on the internet identifying one of the suspects, who delivered the coconuts.
She was identified through one of the suspects, who was asked to deliver the coconuts with the woman’s 13-year old son to her husband at the city jail, Futalan added.
Futalan said Catan told them that she has no idea about the shabu hidden inside the coconuts as she was only told by her husband through a phone call that somebody will send some coconuts to their house.
Upon the arrival of the delivery, she told her son and the driver to send it to the city jail, where it was discovered to have contraband items.
However, Futalan said one of the suspects also told them that the packing of shabu was done at Catan's house.
Joram Catan had earlier denied involvement.
Futalan said the woman's son and the other suspects have been invited for query, but they all denied their participation in the act.
“We will provide the identities of the other suspects once we complete the report and the investigation,” Futalan said.
Netchy Catan was charged for violation of Section 11 and 12 (possession of dangerous drugs and paraphernalia) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.