CEBU CITY — Police arrested an Indian national on Friday for allegedly selling opium inside his minimart in Barangay Kamputhaw.

Lalith Chellaram Sangwani, 42, was apprehended around 3:20 p.m. at the Arcade Building on F. Cabahug Street by members of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG-7) and PDEA-7. Sangwani resides in the same barangay.

Authorities seized 24 bottles of suspected opium, weighing a total of 320 grams, valued at P208,000. Opium, a controlled substance, is commonly used to produce heroin, codeine and morphine.

According to police, Sangwani was allegedly selling illegal drugs alongside his minimart business. PDEG-7, led by Acting Commander Police Lt. Col. Eduardo Guevara Jr., conducted a week-long surveillance before obtaining a search warrant from the Regional Trial Court, 7th Judicial Region, Branch 17, signed by Executive Judge Anacleto Debalucos.