MANILA, Philippines — Authorities have arrested a marijuana pusher during a buy-bust operation before midnight Friday in Lucena City.

According to Lt. Colonel Romulo Albacea, Lucena police chief, the suspect was Randel Marciano, 26, who was arrested after sealing a transaction for one sachet of marijuana to an undercover police officer in Barangay (Village) 9 at around 11:30 p.m.

Marciano yielded 153 grams of marijuana worth an estimated P55,000.

Police labeled Marciano as one of the few major distributors of marijuana to students, out of school youths and young professionals in the village and neighboring areas.

Drug users tipped off the local police regarding Marciano’s illegal activities.

With the shortage of shabu (crystal meth) in the local market due to the continues campaign and operations against drug pushers in the city, most shabu users have shifted to marijuana, a police agent said. (Chris Figueroa/IAMIGO/CNS)