A buy-bust operation in Sitio Mahayahay II in Barangay Calamba, Cebu City on Friday evening, September 22, 2023, lead to the arrest of a 58-year-old buko vendor and two others with the confiscation of P88,400 worth of shabu. | PDEA-7 Photo via Emmariel Ares
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 58-year-old buko vendor in Cebu City and two others will be spending time in jail after they were arrested with approximately P88,400 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation on Friday evening, September 22, 2023.
The anti-illegal drugs operation took place in Sitio Mahayahay II, Barangay Calamba, Cebu City at around 6:00 p.m.
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Buko vendor, ‘drug den maintainer’
According to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7), the operation resulted to the arrest of three persons and the shut down of a suspected drug den in the city.
Operatives arrested during the operation 58-year-old Rene Francisco Falla also known as “Tatay,” who works as a buko vendor.
PDEA-7 said that Falla was a suspected drug den maintainer and the subject of the buy-bust operation.
Authorities also arrested two other individuals suspected to be drug den visitors.
The alleged visitors were identified as 18-year-old Joseph Silinduran and 20-year-old Benjamin Jamito Jr.
All three arrested persons are residents of the barangay, according to the agency.
Six packs of suspected shabu
Authorities confiscated from the alleged suspects a total of six packs of suspected shabu weighing around 13 grams. The confiscated alleged illegal drugs had an estimated market value of P88,400.
Operatives also seized during the operation various drug paraphernalia from the scene.
The pieces of drug evidence had been submitted to the laboratory for chemical analysis and proper disposition, said PDEA-7.
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Buko vendor can dispose 25 grams of shabu in a week
The joint operation was successfully executed by personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cebu Provincial Office and officers from the Pasil Police Station.
Leia Alcantara, PDEA-7 spokesperson, said that one week of case buildup was done before the operation was put into motion.
Alcantara said that based on their observation, Falla could dispose around 25 grams of illegal drugs per week.
The suspects are in the custody of the authorities pending the filing of appropriate charges against them.
According to PDEA7, Falla will likely be facing charges of maintaining a drug den, selling and possession of illegal drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, while the two others would be charged with visiting a drug den.