Two tattoo artists nabbed in Boracay drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two men working as tattoo artists were arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation morning of Dec 2, 2022 in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.

Police identified the suspects as Thomas Forex Montecarlo, 25, of Libertad, Antique, and Dan Angelo Santos, 39, a native of Marikina City.

Members of the Malay Municipal Police Station arrested the duo in a buy-bust operation at 6:45 a.m. Friday at Barangay Balabag.

Recovered from the suspects were five plastic sachets of suspected shabu and plastic sachets of suspected marijuana leaves.

Corporal Jomie Sumagaysay, Malay PNP Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) member, said Montecarlo was the subject of the operation.

But Santos accompanied him during the drug sting.

Montecarlo has been monitored to be peddling drugs even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, he came to Boracay to continue his tattooing work. He was again monitored to be selling illegal drugs in the area.

The two suspects had no previous arrest.

Montecarlo allegedly sourced his supply from San Jose, Antique.

The two suspects are now detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).