TUGUEGARAO CITY – Authorities arrested a 20-year-old motor shop owner after he yielded suspected marijuana valued at P60,000 in a buy-bust operation in Pinacanauan Nat, Barangay Tanza, here Thursday, June 15.
Suspect Vann Kurt Babalan, alias “Tusi,” of Dagupan Centro, Tabuk City, Kalinga is considered high-value individual drug personality.
Babalan was arrested by joint personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Isabela and Tuguegarao City police at 7:20 p.m. after he sold one big transparent zip lock containing dried marijuana leaves with fruiting tops and stalks weighing 100 grams to a poseur-buyer.
Recovered from him were nine big heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing the same substance weighing 500 grams, a black Oppo Reno 6 cellular phone, and the buy-bust money.
Babalan will face charges for violating Republic (RA) No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Meanwhile, two suspected drug personalities were arrested during a buy-bust operation in Centro 2, Sanchez Mira, this province, after a tip provided to the “Isumbong Mo Kay Wilkins (IMKW)” project of the PDEA.
PDEA identified the suspects as Reynalyn Udaudi Tingson, alias "Ninit," 44, of Centro 2, Sanchez Mira, and Nor Aina Sabandal Ibrahim, 24, of San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.
Recovered from the suspects were approximately two grams of marijuana valued at P13,600.
Launched in June 2020 by PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva, IMKW allows the public to report to the agency any illegal drug activities in their areas.