Crim student, accomplice arrested over P1.3-M meth

A criminology student and another man were arrested in Caloocan City on Wednesday night after authorities recovered suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation.

The operation, conducted by the Caloocan City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA), followed a month of surveillance.

The anti-drug operation occurred around 10 p.m. along Lucia Street in Barangay 71.

Police Lt. Restie Mables, chief of the Caloocan City Police SDEU, said the two suspects are considered high-value individuals.

They were identified as 51-year-old Marcelo, a resident of Bagong Barrio, and 19-year-old MC John, a first-year criminology student.

Three knot-tied plastic sachets containing a total of 205 grams of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of P1.39 million, were recovered from the suspects.

“Actually, our suspects are considered repeat offenders; Marcelo was arrested before for violation of RA 1602, or illegal gambling, while MC John was arrested for drug charges last year,” Mables said.

According to the 19-year-old suspect, he was released from police custody last March 2024, adding that his current wife is pregnant.

The police lieutenant added that the arrested individuals admitted that they are using illegal drugs, however, the results of their drug tests are still being awaited.

“Upon interrogation, the suspects said that there is a prisoner inside the Caloocan City Jail that is contacting them to receive the illegal drugs from another person, so basically the prisoner serves as their middleman,” the Caloocan SDEU chief continued.

The suspects are also allegedly involved in the movement of illegal drugs in Bagong Barrio, Quezon City, and Manila.

Marcelo and MC John will face charges under Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.