Cops seize P7-M worth of shabu, arrest suspect in Ormoc City buy-bust

Ormoc City, Leyte. INQUIRER FILES

TACLOBAN CITY – Authorities confiscated nearly P7 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested a regional high-value drug suspect during a buy-bust operation in Ormoc City, Leyte on Thursday, July 9.

The operation marked one of the biggest illegal drug seizures in Eastern Visayas region this year.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: 2 arrested in P500,000 ‘shabu’ buy-bust in Koronadal

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

The suspect, identified only by his alias “Tan,” 51, a driver and resident of Ormoc City, was arrested in Barangay South by joint operatives of the Police Regional Office 8’s Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU-8), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 8, the Ormoc City Police Station 1 Drug Enforcement Team, and Sniffer K9 Security Solutions and Training Center Inc.

Police said the suspect is listed in the Regional Priority Target List (RPTL) as a “high-value individual” in the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Recovered from the suspect were six heat-sealed plastic sachets, a knot-tied plastic cellophane, and a blue plastic bag wrapped with masking tape containing approximately 1,029 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P6,997,200, based on the Dangerous Drugs Board’s standard valuation.

The seized items were marked and inventoried at the scene in the presence of the witnesses required under the law to preserve the integrity of the evidence.

Article continues after this advertisement

Authorities are preparing charges against the suspect for violating Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, Police Regional Office 8 director, said the operation demonstrates the continuing crackdown on illegal drug syndicates in Eastern Visayas through intelligence-driven operations.

Article continues after this advertisement

“This operation reflects our strong resolve to eliminate illegal drugs. We will continue intensifying intelligence-driven operations to keep our communities safe and secure,” Capoy said.

The drug seizure is considered a significant accomplishment in the region’s anti-narcotics campaign, as authorities continue to focus on dismantling drug distribution networks rather than merely arresting street-level offenders.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Police urged the public to continue reporting suspected illegal drug activities, saying community cooperation remains crucial in sustaining law enforcement efforts against the illegal drug trade.