Police nab woman, seize shabu stash in Toledo drug bust

CEBU, Philippines - A woman was arrested after she was seized with nearly P300,000 worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation Saturday night in Barangay Poblacion, Toledo City.

Ezra Nicola Hernandez was placed under arrest immediately after she handed over a pack of shabu to a policeman who acted as poseur-buyer.

Elements of the Provincial Intelligence Branch, Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch, and the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group conducted the operation at past 7 p.m. outside the suspect’s house.

Senior Inspector Leo Logroño of PIB said Hernandez had been under surveillance for one week before the buy-bust operation was conducted against her.

According to Logroño, the suspect sells shabu at her home and had been in the illegal drug trade since last year. Her customers were reportedly from Barangay Poblacion and neighboring barangays.

After the buy-bust operation was consummated, the police proceeded to search the suspect’s house and found four large packs of suspected shabu, five smaller packs of the same substance, and a digital weighing scale.

The confiscated drugs weighed 22.2 grams and is reportedly worth at least P261,960 based on the Dangerous Drugs Board’s estimate, said Logroño.

Logroño said the suspect’s supplier of illegal drugs is yet to be identified.

The suspect was placed under PIB’s custody and will be charged today for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old man was arrested after he was seized with a firearm and packs of suspected shabu in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City on Saturday.

Guadalupe Police arrested Albert Navarro alias Alert Dako who yielded a cal. 38 revolver with ammunition and two sachets of suspected shabu.

Navarro will be charged today for violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and of RA 9165.  (FREEMAN)