22-year-old yields P6M shabu in Cebu City; 3 sisters nabbed in Bohol buy-bust

YOUNG AND DANGEROUS. Anti-drug agents arrest Zollo Gabas, (center) after a kilo of shabu was seized from the 22-year-old suspect through a controlled delivery operation on Saturday, February 20, 2021,  at around 12 p.m., in Barangay Cogon Ramos, Cebu City. | Photo from PDEA-7

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A kilo of ‘shabu’ concealed in a delivery package was confiscated from a 22-year-old man after a controlled delivery operation along Gen. Echavez Extension, Barangay Cogon Ramos, Cebu City, around 12 p.m., today, February 20.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-7) agents identified the suspect as Zollo Gabas.

Seized from Gabas were three (3) boxes containing two (2) frying pans and an air fryer. Concealed along with these items were two (2) black plastic packs containing suspected ‘shabu’ weighing more or less a kilo with an estimated street value of P6,800,000. 

Also confiscated from the suspect were a cellular phone, an identification card, and an acknowledgment receipt of the forwarding company.

The confiscated package was first intercepted at a warehouse of a cargo forwarder in Clark International Airport from Malaysia. A controlled delivery operation was then conducted to nail Gabas being the consignee. The package was allowed to be delivered under strict monitoring of law enforcement officers.

The controlled delivery operation was jointly conducted by elements of PDEA-7, Clark International Airport Drug Interdiction Task Group (CRK-IADITG), Bureau of Customs (Port of Clark), Bureau of Customs (Port of Cebu), Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Unit Special Operations Units (PNP DEU SOU), and the Cebu City Police Office Intelligence Branch.

The operation was also done with the full cooperation of the forwarding company.

PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Alcantara said that Gabas admitted that he owns the package and that it was not his first time to do so.

Authorities said that they have no previous records related to Gabas’ illegal drug activities although they admitted that the suspect is a known drug user in Barangay Cogon Ramos, Cebu City.

Gabas will be facing charges for violating Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs) in relation to Section 26a, Article II of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Meanwhile, PDEA-PNP Bohol arrested three sisters and a drug personality during a buy-bust operation conducted at 73 Gallares St, Purok 2, Poblacion 2, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The operation led to the arrest of Dionesia Arocha, 37, the subject of the buy-bust; Warren Nancy Arocha (target listed), 34; Christina Arocha, 31, and Christian Arochha, 18 the son of Warren Nancy. All four are residents of the said barangay.

Authorities confiscated 13 packs of suspected shabu weighing more or less 3 grams with a street value of P20,400.

The suspects are said to be operating within Tagbilaran City and neighboring municipalities. They also have the capacity to dispose of 15 grams of shabu per week. /rcg