Magician's shabu turns out to be menthol candy

MABALACAT, Pampanga - A magician arrested for allegedly selling methamphetamine hydrocloride or shabu was able to evade drug dealing charges when policemen discovered that what he actually sold was a piece of menthol candy. The suspect was identified as Ricardo Gaviola Bucao, 35, a magician and a resident of Block 9 Paradise Subdivision, Barangay San Roque, Tarlac City, a Sun.Star report said Wednesday. The suspect was arrested earlier after an informant reported to the Mabalacat police that someone was selling drugs along McArthur Highway in Barangay Dau. A subsequent "buy-bust" operation resulted in the magician selling "shabu" to an informant. However, tests conducted by the Regional Crime Laboratory in Camp Olivas later proved that the the substance was actually menthol candy. The magician, the report said, was still charged for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in the City of San Fernando after he tested positive for drug use. "The charge for violation of Section 15 (drug use) is deemed absorbed by Section 11 Article 2 of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002," prosecutor Ramon Tomas explained. Bucao, the report said, had also admitted to police that he used shabu two weeks ago, but he was not selling illegal drugs. A bail of P200,000 was recommended for Bucao's temporary liberty. He is currently detained at the Angeles City District Jail. - Sun.Star