A suspected drug dealer was arrested after he was allegedly caught in the act of selling shabu worth P28,000 to an undercover Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operative on Friday evening.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jowel Lico, a 41-year-old resident of Purok 5, Barangay Poblacion in the town of Panglao.
Lico was arrested by joint operatives of the PDEA led by agent Nicolas Gomez and the 703rd Philippine Maritime Police at past 8:30 p.m. near the suspect’s residence.
The sting operation was reportedly set up after Lico was spotted selling illegal drugs.
In a report, police said that six more packets of shabu with an estimated street value of P70,800 was found in Lico’s possession upon his arrest.
According to authorities, Lico is listed in the PDEA’s watch list.
However, the suspect still denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Lico is now under PDEA custody while charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are set to be filed against him. (R. Tutas)