P6.8 million shabu seized; 2 women arrested

CEBU, Philippines — Two female high-value individuals were arrested while another female eluded the arrest in a buy-bust operation that yielded P6.8 million worth of illegal drugs.

The operation was conducted in a condominium in Hernan Cortes St., Kasambagan, Subangdaku, Mandaue City by members of Consolacion Police Station last Thursday night.

The arrested suspects were identified as certain Kris Yamas Orlanda, 34, and Elsie Caranzo Danlag, 26, residents of Lamac, Consolacion, Cebu while a certain Psyche Gonzales Hortelano managed to elude arrest.

Police Major Vernino Noserale, Consolacion Police Station chief said it was a joint operation with the City Intelligence Branch of Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) wherein they placed the suspects under investigation for about three months.

“It’s because of COVID atong na found out nga the drug personality encountered the difficulties in moving their contraband, so because of the operatives na drawing na nila to what extent ang operation ani nga grupo even na duha lang atong na arrested gabiie but we know na kinsa ilang source, kinsa ilang contact, at the same time asa ilang operation,” said Noserale.

He added the operation has been the sixth attempts of intercepting their contraband since the first five turned to have no illegal drugs inside their transportation.

On the initial interview with the suspects, Noserale said Orlanda turned out to be the one in contact with the illegal transactions while Danlag stood as the sidekick.

Orlanda also claimed to have been previously arrested before but said she was released since her charges were reportedly dropped.

She also claimed to have been in the illegal drug trading for almost five years already, saying that this year she was able to distribute almost six kilos.

“This at large (Hortelano) mao ni ang daku-daku nila, siya gyud ang usa sa gusto natong makuha unta kay siya’y direct to the boss, she helps us unta filling the gap of the information kay daghan pa unta makuha niya,” said Noserale.

Noserale said that based on their investigation, the three suspects are possible members of a drug syndicate considering that they are organized thus they will only transact with the minimum weight illegal drugs of 200 grams.

“Pag makuha nato nila ilang bulk of supply sa illegal drugs, ilang pinaka-gamay nga pack kay 200 grams, mohatag lang gyud na sila og 5 grams if kaila ra jud sila sa mopalit and ikaduha kung wala na gyud silay kwarta, kun baga they are working for somebody kun baga,  ommission-based sila,” said Noserale.

Confiscated from the suspects were two medium packs and one large pack of suspected shabu with estimated weight of one kilogram with estimated value of P6,868,000. — GMR (FREEMAN)