Cebu, Naga city busts: 4 adults, minor held; ₱1.1M shabu seized

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Four adults were arrested while a 15-year-old boy was taken into custody after separate buy-bust operations in Cebu City and Naga City on Thursday, June 18, resulted in the seizure of more than P1.1 million worth of suspected shabu.

The operations, conducted hours apart, led to the arrest of two high-value targets in Cebu City and the dismantling of an alleged drug den in Naga City.

Targets arrested in Banilad

At around 7:20 p.m., operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) Regional Special Enforcement Team, PDEA-7 Intelligence Section, and Mabolo Police Station of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) conducted a buy-bust operation in Sitio Tonggo, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

PDEA-7 identified those arrested as alias “Vicente,” 50, and his live-in partner and alleged cohort, alias “Jecille,” 47. Both are jobless and residents of the area.

READ: Suba buy-bust: High-value individual nabbed, P341K shabu seized

Authorities confiscated 11 packs of suspected shabu weighing around 160 grams with an estimated market value of ₱1,088,000, along with the marked money used in the operation.

PDEA-7 said the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant. Authorities also conducted about a month of surveillance and case buildup before carrying out the buy-bust operation.

Investigators said the two suspects were allegedly disposing of around 50 to 70 grams of suspected shabu every week.

Drug den dismantled

Later that evening, at around 11:40 p.m., operatives from PDEA Cebu Provincial Office and the Naga City Police Station conducted another buy-bust operation in Barangay Langtad, Naga City.

The operation resulted in the dismantling of an alleged drug den.

Arrested were the alleged drug den maintainer, alias “Babing,” 39, and an alleged drug den visitor, alias “Justin,” 25. Both are jobless and residents of Barangay Langtad.

READ: 18-year-old out-of-school youth nabbed in Cebu City buy-bust

Boy found

Authorities also took a 15-year-old boy into custody after he was found inside the alleged drug den during the operation.

Police said information from concerned citizens led to the operation, which was preceded by a week-long case buildup.

Investigators estimated that the alleged drug den had been disposing of around 20 grams of suspected shabu weekly.

More shabu, paraphernalia seized

Authorities recovered five packs of suspected shabu weighing around 11 grams with an estimated market value of ₱74,800.

Also seized were an empty sachet containing suspected shabu residue, marked money, and various drug paraphernalia.

All confiscated drug evidence has been turned over to the PDEA-7 Regional Office Laboratory for examination and proper disposition.

Combined, the two operations resulted in the seizure of around 171 grams of suspected shabu valued at approximately ₱1,162,800.

Minor referred to welfare officers

The four adult suspects are currently under the custody of PDEA-7 in Lahug, Cebu City.

Meanwhile, the 15-year-old boy has been referred to the Naga City Social Welfare and Development Office.

As of Friday, June 19, authorities are preparing appropriate charges for violations of Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, against the four adult suspects.

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