An operative of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Central Visayas (CIDG-7) inventories packs of suspected shabu valued at P16 million seized in a raid in Barangay Lamintak Norte, Medellin town Thursday morning. (CDN PHOTO JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Police seized 1.3 kilos of shabu valued at P16 million yesterday morning in a raid in Medellin town, about 120 kilometers from Cebu City.
This is the second raid conducted by the police in the same barangay in Medellin just two days apart, and is the biggest drug haul by police this year in Cebu.
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-7) raided the residence of a certain John Niel Cabatingan in Sitio Proper, Barangay Lamintak Norte, Medellin at around 7 a.m., armed with a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 61 Judge Antonio Marigomen based in Bogo City.
The subject of the search warrant was allegedly in his residence when police came but managed to elude arrest after noticing police presence.
Senior Inspector Lerio Coral, who led the CIDG operatives, said the street value of shabu is P11,000 per gram.
Just last Tuesday afternoon, a team from the Provincial Intelligence Branch led by SPO1 Reynaldo Solante raided the house of a certain Ariel “Aying” Ortega, a suspected level 2 drug pusher, who managed to escape. Another drug suspect was killed in a shootout that ensued, while his alleged cohorts were arrested.
Seized during the raid were 600 small packets of shabu valued at P1.4 million.
LATEST RAID
Yesterday’s police operation netted 1.3 kilos of shabu but there were no arrests. Only Cabatingan’s mother was inside his house during the raid.
Senior Supt. Marlon Tayaba, chief of CIDG-7, congratulated his men.
Tayaba said Cabatingan and Ortega operate in the same area and are allegedly both responsible for the proliferation of drugs in the northern towns of Cebu.
He said Cabatingan is considered a level 1 drug pusher and can dispose of more than a kilo of shabu within one week.
“With the help of the community, we were able to confiscate more than a kilo of shabu,” Tayaba said.
Prior to the operation, Tayaba said they conducted a three-week surveillance before applying for a search warrant.
Tayaba said based on the volume of illegal drugs they recovered inside Cabatingan’s room, it was more than enough to supply the northern towns for a week.
Twelve big packs estimated to contain 50 grams each were first recovered, followed by 26 medium packs estimated to contain 10 grams each.
A manhunt has been organized to run after Cabatingan.
Tayaba said Cabatingan will be facing charges for violation of RA 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Law as Amended.