‘Minor pusher’ among 900 nabbed in PRO-7’s Holy Week operations

Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 17-year-old boy was one of 18 alleged street level pushers arrested during anti-illegal drug operations in Central Visayas during the Holy Week.

The minor was allegedly caught with 155 grams of suspected shabu and a .38 caliber revolver, said Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas chief.

“Pabata na ang nagpupush og droga. (The drug pushers are getting younger),” said Sinas in a press briefing on Monday, April 22.

He, however, did not specify if the minor pusher was arrested in an operation in Cebu.

The 18 alleged arrested street level pushers were part of the 266 people arrested during 168 buy-bust operations in the region during the Holy Week, he said.

Sinas said that the arrests were part of Oplan Storm Bringer synchronized enhanced managing of police operations (Sempo) from April 17 to 21 in Central Visayas.

Read more: Police arrest nine persons; nets 300K worth of drugs in Talisay drug busts

He said that 946 suspects that included the 266 drug suspects were arrested in 673 operations during the Holy Week.

He said the others were arrested for illegal gambling and other crimes such as illegal fishing and illegal possession of firearms.

Sinas also said that aside from the drug arrests, they also confiscated at least 17 assorted firearms during the buy-bust operations and an estimated P6.5 million of suspected shabu during these operations in the region.

Read more: P1M shabu seized in Guadalupe drug bust

PRO-7 also conducted 174 operations against illegal gambling leading to the arrest of 479 people and the confiscation of 113 pieces of steel gaffs, 169 fighting cocks and other related items totalling to P34,000. 

A firearm was also confiscated during the operation.

An operation against illegal fishing was also conducted in Siquijor where three fishermen were arrested.| dbs