CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union – A 45-year old high-value target in the illegal drugs campaign, who plies his trade as a fruit seller, was nabbed by authorities in a buy-bust operation last Saturday in Barangay Pagdalagan, San Fernando City, this province.
Chief Inspector Silverio Ordinando Jr., La Union police information officer, identified the suspect as Allan Rey Loma, a resident of Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Cavite province.
Initial investigation showed that Loma was carrying a box full of fruits and was selling his wares, which were actually the banned amphetamine hydrochloride, in the city streets. An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, disguised as a buyer, approached him to buy his “goods”.
The agent gave the money and Loma allegedly handed the former a sealed sachet containing the drug. Joint back-up authorities arrested Loma and confiscated his fruit box which contained 50 grams of the banned drugs estimated to worth P300,000.00.
PDEA said that Loma has been operating his illegal drugs trade in several provinces including La Union.
Loma denied the accusations levelled against him, and also said in a radio interview that he did not know that the box he was carrying contained shabu.
Loma is now detained at the San Fernando City police station, and court charges will be filed against him for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which imposes a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to P5-million. Erwin Beleo/Northbound Philippines News Online