Drugs from Palawan smuggled to Cebu?
Operatives from the Cebu City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) arrested on Wednesday dawn, May 12, 2021, two drug personalities, including one who belonged to the Region’s Watchlist, in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City. Arrested were Rhey Mark Padilla Bughao and Ranilo Portogaliza del Mar. Close to P700,000 illegal drugs were confiscated from the two suspects. Police officers said that the shabu was sourced from Palawan. | Contributed Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Close to P700,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized by anti-narcotics police in Cebu City from two suspected drug pushers during a buy-bust operation on Wednesday dawn, May 12, 2021.
The Cebu City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) arrested Rhey Mark Padilla Bughao and Ranilo Portogaliza del Mar in Sitio San Roque, Brgy. Lahug at 12:05 a.m. on Wednesday.
Reports from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) showed that Bughao belonged to the Regional Level Watchlist of Top Drug Personalities.
“Our police officers have been closely monitoring his activities for quite some time now. They were not able to immediately arrest him because he does not stay long in an area, probably as means to avoid detection,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy director for operations, in a follow-up interview.
21 small sachets and one large pack of illegal drugs believed to be shabu, the local term for methamphetamine, totaling 101 grams, were confiscated from Bughao and del Mar’s possession. These have a total estimated street value of P686,800.
Parilla said that Bughao has the capacity to dispose of over 100 grams of shabu per day.
“He was able to dispose of more than 100 grams of shabu in a day, making him part of the regional level of top drug personalities,” he explained.
Initial findings from investigators also stated that both Bughao and del Mar disclosed to police officers that the shabu was sourced from Palawan.
The two suspects added these were smuggled to Cebu through fishing vessels that often dock at Pasil Fish Port in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City.
However, both denied the accusations they were selling illegal drugs, and that they were just instructed to distribute them to specific areas.
In the meantime, Parilla said follow-up investigations and operations are now underway to determine other possible individuals involved.
/bmjo
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