P2M shabu seized in drug lairs

An operative of the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office escorts Allan Alidon who was arrested last Wednesday during a drug raid in barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City. (CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)

Close to P2 million worth of illegal drugs were seized by police as they swooped down on two barangays in Cebu City yesterday.

The raid came a day after simultaneous drug operations were conducted in Cebu City and Mandaue City where 17 people suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade  were arrested. An estimated P2.5 million worth of shabu were confiscated in the operation.

Armed with a search warrants issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges Wilfredo Navarro and Soliver Peras, policemen from the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group stormed barangay Pasil and arrested Breezy Barbon. A bag containing plastic sachets suspected to contain shabu were found concealed at  the ceiling of his house.

Police also raided the house of Marjorie Tagalog and seized  P46,000 cash believed to be proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs. Tagalog eluded arrest, prompting  police to detain her  father, Edwin. A ledger notebook where suspected illegal drug transactions were listed was found in the house.

The ledger stated that P5,000 was given to an unidentified police officer on May 21 and  P7,000 on June 28.

Senior Supt. Conrad Capa, deputy director for operations of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, said the inclusion of a police officer in the ledger is a cause for alarm. He said they will dig deeper  to identify the policeman.

In barangay Ermita, police confiscated plastic sachets suspected to contain illegal drugs and a gun from Robert Genovesa while Ronnie Ramas and Lanjel Derelon were arrested after they were caught allegedly sniffing drugs. Authorities also recovered more than P50,000 which were believed to  be proceeds from the illegal drug trade.

Capa said the series of police operations means they are serious in the fight against illegal drug trade.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama commended the police for the success of their operations. He however said, this should not stop the police from pursuing the “big fish”  in Cebu.

“I am very happy and I would like to congratulate the triumvirate of Col. Bañas, Conrad Capa and Noli Romana,” said Rama during his  press conference.

In Talisay City, two suspected drug peddlers were arrested  in barangay San Isidro, Wednesday  evening.

Police  identified the suspects as Mark Manuel Dieparine, 19  and Martin De  Guzman, 24, both residents of the place.

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