Police said they seized P23.6 million worth of illegal drugs from a 33-year-old woman and her 45-year-old brother-in-law in a drug bust in sitio Calcalan, barangay Poblacion in San Remigio town, northern Cebu yesterday morning.
Operatives of the Cebu provincial police’s intelligence branch arrested Maribel Arcenal, common-law wife of Rey Arcenal and her brother-in-law Eduardo Arcenal, who drove their Mitsubishi Strada vehicle.
Police confiscated two kilos and 25 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P23.6 million. Supt. Rodolfo Albotra Jr. said the big pack of shabu was found inside a bag brought by Maribel.
“Intelligence reports stated that after Rey was arrested, the operation continued under the supervision and management of his wife… We did not expect that we would seize such a large drug cache,” Albotra said.
He said Maribel is linked to slain drug pusher Noel Codeniera in Liloan town, whose underground vault was discovered by police last year.
A list of money remittances showed Maribel’s name as one of the recipients.
Maribel, who lives in A. Lopez, Cebu City, said she was with her three kids and her brother-in-law to visit relatives in San Remigio town when they were arrested.
She denied the allegations against her.
Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, Cebu provincial police chief, said he was happy with the arrest while Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said it is proof of his administration’s unrelenting campaign against illegal drug trafficking.