Trike driver flagged down in Pangasinan checkpoint to check motorcycle papers, licenses yields illegal drugs
PANGASINAN -- A tricycle driver who was flagged down in a checkpoint under Oplan Sita for inspection of motorcycle’s documents and driver’s license, was instead arrested for yielding a small amount of shabu in Brgy. Balayong, San Carlos City at around 12:00 noon on Monday, Nov. 14.
Report from Pangasinan Police identified arrested trike driver as Ronnel Paragas, 32, a resident of Brgy Bolingit, San Carlos City.
The checkpoint investigator said that the suspect, who was on board his tricycle, was flagged down by the personnel of San Carlos City Philippine National Police for Oplan Sita inspection.
However, when he was asked to show his driver’s license and documents, Paragas was noticeably anxious.
As he opened his pouch to get his driver’s license, a heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing a suspected shabu incidentally fell from the license’s pouch.
The police personnel also confiscated his tricycle.
The confiscated shabu with an estimated weight of 0.14 grams will be submitted to the Urdaneta City Forensic Unit, Urdaneta, Pangasinan for laboratory examination.
The tricycle driver is now facing a case in violation of Sec 11 of RA 9165.