A junk shop owner from Talisay City was caught with 5.5 kilos of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation at past 10 p.m. on July 30 in Barangay San Roque this city. | Talisay police via Paul Lauro
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Some P37.4 million worth of suspected shabu was confiscated from a 31-year-old junk shop owner in Talisay City in southern Cebu on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
This was during a buy-bust operation at past 10 p.m. that day in Purok Kawayan, Sitio Kimba, Barangay San Roque this city.
READ: Shabu worth P1,700 sends 18-year-old woman to jail in Carcar
HVI nabbed
Talisay police identified the suspect as Robert Fernan, a resident of Purok Avocado, Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City, Cebu.
Police in its report also identified Fernan as a high value individual, who had been consistently been reported to police as being involved in the illegal drug trade.
P37.4 million shabu seized
Investigation showed that Fernan was caught with 5.5 kilograms of suspected shabu by a joint team of Cebu Provincial Police Office and Police Regional Office in Central Visayas policemen, and Talisay City Drug Enforcement Unit police officers led by Police Captain Lino Galvan III.
READ: Pregnant woman in Mandaue nabbed for sneaking illegal drugs into prison
These are the illegal drugs confiscated from a junk shop owner during a buy-bust operation on July 30 in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City. | Talisay police via Paul Lauro
The suspected shabu confiscated from Fernan was estimated to have a market value of P37,400,000.
Aside from the illegal drugs, police also confiscated from Fernan, a .45 caliber pistol and a Honda Beat motorcycle.
READ: P150M worth of illegal drugs seized in 5 months — LCPO chief
Suspect detained
According to the Talisay police, the illegal drugs confiscated from Fernan were placed inside 11 plastic packs of suspected shabu.
Patrolman Demar Vidal, desk officer of Talisay City Police Station, on Monday said in a phone interview that Fernan was detained in the “custodial facility” in Talisay City hall pending the filing of charges.
Vidal said that Fernan would be facing a case of possession and selling of illegal drugs.
READ: Political will key to drug policy change in PH, advocates say