Meth ‘smuggler’ at Valenzuela jail collared

Jail guards arrested a 46-year-old woman after she was allegedly caught attempting to smuggle suspected methamphetamine into the Valenzuela City Jail on Sunday afternoon.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology identified the suspect as Yehlen Gapayao, a resident of Barangay Dalandanan, Valenzuela.

According to an incident report, jail officers conducted a routine physical search on Gapayao at the visitor inspection area as she was preparing to visit her detained live-in partner.

Guards discovered a heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu inside her pocket, leading to her immediate arrest.

While under custody, Gapayao requested to retrieve her mobile phone from her bag to contact a relative.

During the search of the bag, guards discovered a second plastic sachet of suspected shabu.

Along with the drugs, officers seized a shoulder bag, a mobile phone, and a tax identification card.

The confiscated drugs, weighing approximately 0.41 grams, have an estimated street value of P2,788.

Authorities are filing criminal charges against Gapayao for illegal drug possession under Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, before the Valenzuela City Prosecutor's Office.