Student nabbed in shabu sale

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A 21-year old student in New Washington, Aklan was arrested in a buy-bust operation on November 24. He yielded sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or commonly known as shabu. 

Police identified the suspect as Augusto Masinda, resident of Sitio Suebod in Barangay Mabilo. He allegedly sold a sachet of shabu to a poseur buyer for a marked money of P1,000 at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

A team of New Washington municipal police station and Aklan Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) operatives conducted the anti-narcotics operation outside the suspect’s house. 

The suspect, sensing the presence of policemen, immediately ran away inside the house after he handed over the illegal drugs to the poseur buyer. Masinda was chased and collared by pursuing operatives. 

The suspect also yielded three more sachets of shabu during the body search. He was temporarily detained at New Washington municipal police station lock-up cell after the arrest. 

Masinda is facing charges for illegal sale of illegal drugs, in violations of Article II, Section 5 and illegal possession of dangerous drug under Article II, Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Prior to buy-bust operation, the suspect allegedly encouraged his 14-year old neighbor to take illegal drugs with him. 

“Nag-surveillance tayo dahil sa itong tip sa atin. Pag gabi, may pumupunta sa bahay nila at nagdedeliver ng druga,” SPO1 Peter Umetin of New Washington police station said.