Intelligence operatives of the Catanduanes Provincial Police Office have been directed by PNP provincial director Col. Paul Abay to determine the source of the illegal drugs seized last week in the capital town.
A ranking official at Camp Francisco Camacho told the Tribune that the 29 sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride confiscated from alleged pusher Aldo Valeza Nocum, also known as “Palao,” could be part of the drug shipment delivered recently to the Bicol region, particularly in various cities.
There is no way it could come from “old stock”, as the community quarantine temporarily halted drug commonly transported through passenger buses, the officer disclosed.
Investigators are now looking into the possibility that the drugs were either sent through cargo trucks frequently traveling between the island and Metro Manila or through courier delivery services disguised as ordinary packages.
The buy-bust operation against Nocum, 46, a band member and dance instructor from Bagong Silang, Quezon City who is residing at Calatagan Proper in Virac where he was arrested last May 19, 2020, could be followed by similar operations in the next months.
The suspect was nabbed at around 4:20 P.M. that day by elements of the Virac police station, the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit/ Regional Special Operations Unit/ Regional Intelligence Division (RPDEU/RSOU/RID) and the Catanduanes Provincial Intelligence Unit under the supervision of Lt. Marissa Macabeo.
Seized from him was the buy-bust money and a small sachet of suspected illegal drugs that was the subject of sale, along with another small sachet and 27 medium-sized sachets, all containing white crystalline granules.
According to the police, Nocum, who is included in the provincial database on illegal drugs, was placed under its custody pending the filing of criminal charges for the sale and possession of illegal drugs in violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Residents of Calatagan Proper were quoted as observing the presence of undercover policemen in at least two strategic spots for two consecutive nights near where the buy-bust operation went down.