Female ex-convict nabbed with P2.3 million worth of shabu

CEBU, Philippines — A 23-year-old female high-value target was arrested Sunday night with P2.3 million worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation at Sitio Bliss in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

Police identified the suspect as Maria Joe-Ann Juezan Caburnay, resident of Sitio Santo Niño in Barangay Guadalupe. City Intelligence Branch (CIB) chief Major Randy Caballes of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said Caburnay was on the list of high-value targets in Central Visayas.

Caballes said the suspect was also arrested in 2017 for the same offense but has availed of the plea bargaining agreement. She was released from Cebu City Jail last year but has since returned to illegal drug business.

Caburnay is allegedly capable of disposing at least 500 grams of shabu every week. Cebu City is the epicenter of her alleged illegal drug operations.

“Whole Cebu City gyud siya kay ang distribution niya 500 to one kilo man a week then different areas man bisag asa lang ang manguha pwede as long as iyang mga trusted,” Caballes said.

Seized from Caburnay during last Sunday’s operation was 350 grams of shabu worth P2.3 million. The suspect allegedly gets her drug supply from her contact at the Cebu City Jail.

Caballes said Caburnay’s supplier is now subject of their follow investigation in coordination with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

According to Caballes, the suspect was able to establish a network inside the City Jail when she was arrested in 2017.

Despite the arrest and the several other anti-drug operations, Caballes said the illegal drug activities have significantly reduced during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period.

“Kay during sa ECQ times limited ang movement then daghan ang deployment sa personnel, so ang pagtransport medyo na lessen, ang ilahang pagbyahe sa mga items,” Caballes said.

He said they expect the illegal drug activities to also increase now that the city is on general community quarantine. FPL (FREEMAN)