Drug ops yield over P14-M shabu

Police and anti-drug agents seized more than P14 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested 11 people in separate operations in Cebu, Quezon and Sorsogon on 1 October.

In Cebu, operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 7 and the Philippine National Police arrested nine suspects and seized more than two kilos of suspected shabu in two operations in Lapu-Lapu and Talisay cities.

In Lapu-Lapu City, a buy-bust operation at about 9:50 p.m. in Purok Shooting Star, Barangay Babag, led to the arrest of a suspected drug personality identified as alias Jhon, 29, a motorcycle taxi driver from Cebu City.

Authorities seized two packs of suspected shabu weighing about two kilos, with an estimated street value of P13.6 million. A motorcycle, cellphone, weighing scale and buy-bust money were also recovered.

Earlier that day, at about 12:45 p.m., PDEA 7 and Talisay City police dismantled a suspected drug den in Sitio Caniba, Barangay Cansojong and arrested eight people.

The alleged drug den maintainer was identified as alias Titing, 50, while seven alleged visitors were also arrested. They included an e-bike driver, tricycle driver, gardener and four jobless individuals from Cansojong and Naga City.

The operation yielded 15 sachets of suspected shabu weighing about 10 grams and valued at P68,000, an open sachet with traces of the drug, drug paraphernalia and other evidence.

In Lucena City, Quezon police arrested a suspected high-value individual identified as alias Ayan in a buy-bust operation at about 11:35 p.m. in Barangay Isabang.

Police said the operation yielded four sachets and bags containing about 71.1 grams of suspected shabu worth P483,480. A motorcycle, sling bag, personal cash and buy-bust money were also recovered.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian tourist was arrested after a baggage scanner detected suspected shabu at the Matnog port in Sorsogon at about 6 a.m.

Police identified the suspect as alias Joe, 34, who was temporarily staying in Pasay City. A search of his bag yielded about one gram of suspected shabu worth P6,800 and two glass tubes with suspected drug residue.

All suspects face charges for alleged violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.