Fish vendor nabbed in drug bust

By Felioe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A fish vendor was arrested Monday evening in a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay Banica, Roxas City.

This time, Mark John Dela Cruz of Barangay 7, Roxas City was unable to evade arrest when the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the Roxas City Police Station, led by police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Paguia, arrested him.

Recovered from Dela Cruz were four sachets of suspected shabu, a motorcycle, a cellphone, a sling bag, and the P2,000 buy-bust money.

The recovered illegal substance weighed 18 grams with an estimated P122,400 street value.

Paguia said Dela Cruz has been considered a slippery target after he eluded several test buys before. He is considered a high-value target individual here.

The suspect is in the custody of the Roxas City PNP and was charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act 2002).