Anti-drug operatives of the Northern Police District (NPD) arrested two men early Friday morning for allegedly selling marijuana and kush, a high-grade marijuana variant, in a buy-bust operation.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Aniway Jr., head of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Northern Police District, said the operation took place at a billiard hall in Phase 7B, Bagong Silang, North Caloocan.

The arrested individuals were identified by their aliases, “Andrie” and “Mark” both residents of North Caloocan.

“Based on the initial investigation, the owner of the billiard hall has no connection to the suspects we apprehended, but we are still not ruling out the possibility at this point,” Aniway said.

The buy-bust targeted P14,000 worth of kush. However, during a search of the suspects, police recovered an additional 15 grams of suspected kush and 950 grams of suspected marijuana, with an estimated total value of P157,500.

Police said both suspects are jobless and not on the Northern Police District’s drug watchlist.

“They [suspects] said that they are getting their supply through Facebook and are being sent to them through a courier service; however, upon checking, their accounts are already blocked by the said source,” Aniway said.

Authorities reported that the arrested individuals have been allegedly supplying marijuana and kush in Bagong Silang, Tala, and neighboring villages in North Caloocan.

In response to the allegations, “Mark” claimed he was unaware his friend “Andrie” intended to sell illegal drugs that night, though he admitted to using marijuana himself to alleviate anxiety and stress.

“Andrie” disclosed that a high school classmate asked him to sell the marijuana leaves, and he also admitted to selling narcotics to pay off debt from online casino gambling and to help with sleep.

Both suspects will face charges for violating sections of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.