Two arrested in separate drugs ops

CEBU, Philippines- Illegal drugs worth a total of over a million were confiscated in separate buy-bust operations in Danao City and Cebu City over the weekend.

In Danao, operatives of the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (CAIDSOTG) confiscated shabu worth at least P1 million during a buy-bust operation at past 3 a.m. on Sunday.

They arrested John Anthony “Dodot” Buot after he sold a medium pack of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer but the cohort, Emmanuel Buot, eluded arrest.

PO3 Nelson Pantoja said it was the poseur buyer who transacted with the suspects and they agreed to meet in Barangay Poblacion.

The backup cops swooped in just as Buot received the boodle money and handed a pack of shabu to the poseur buyer. Emmanuel, however, noticed the commotion and ran away.   Police also found nine other medium packs of shabu in Buot’s possession.

Pantoja said the confiscated shabu weighed 95 grams and has a street value of P1,121,000.

The suspect is said to be one of the drug personalities of the city and was placed under surveillance for almost two weeks before the buy-bust was conducted.

In Cebu City, police confiscated shabu worth at least P500,000 from Christopher Labrado alias “Dong-dong”, 34, during a buy-bust operation in Lower Lamakan, Barangay Pung-ol Sibugay, last Saturday afternoon.

Labrado was arrested by operatives of the Cebu City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group (CAIDSOTG) after he handed a small pack of suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer in exchange for P200.

CAIDSOTG chief, Senior Insp. Eunil Avergonzado, said it was the acting chief of the Cebu City Police Office, Senior Supt. Marciano Batiancela Jr., who received complaints about Labrado’s illegal activity.

Labrado was placed under surveillance for three weeks before the operation was carried out.

“Lantaron ra gyud kaayo siya mobaligya. Dili mahadlok,” Avergonzalo said.

Police seized five small packs, one medium and one large pack of suspected shabu from Labrado. All of the illegal drugs confiscated amounted to P500,000 according to the Dangerous Drugs Board value.

Police also seized cash amounting to P1,350, believed to be proceeds of the sale, from Labrado.

Avergonzado said Labrado is a level two drug pusher who could sell at least 200 grams of illegal drugs every week. He said further the suspect does not only operate in Barangay Pung-ol Sibugay but also in Barangay Pulang-Bato in Cebu City.

He said the suspect started as a drug courier for two years and, when he learned the trade, started selling drugs for almost a year now.

Labrado is now detained at the city police office detention cell and will be facing charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  (FREEMAN)