18 nabbed in separate anti-drugs operations

CEBU, Philippines - At least 18 people were arrested by the police in a series of anti-drug operations since Tuesday resulting in the confiscation of several packs of shabu.

The operations were conducted in the cities of Cebu, Talisay and Danao and the towns of Minglanilla and San Fernando.         

A composite team of police operatives from Cebu City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, City Intelligence Branch, and Sawang Police Station arrested on Tuesday suspected drug pusher Evacuito Openia, 49, during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Suba.

Openia sold a pack of shabu to a police decoy resulting in his arrest. The operatives recovered six more packs in his possession after his arrest.

The same team also arrested Henry Saso, 42, resident of Barangay Duljo Fatima, in another buy-bust operation.

 Another suspected drug pusher, Anecito Lawas, 30, was arrested by the members of

Pardo Police Station on Tuesday during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Laguna, Barangay Bulacao. The police recovered two small sachets of shabu in his possession.

Few minutes later, a certain Ronald Cuesta, 23, was arrested for possession of shabu. The police responded to a trouble alarm and found Cuesta in possession of drugs and five rounds of ammunition for 9mm.

In another operation, two suspected drug pushers in Barangay Calamba were arrested by the operatives of Sawang Police Station. The suspects were identified as Jasper Nadela, 18, and Juver Lisondra, 18, residents of the place. Police recovered 18 packs of shabu in their possession.

In Mambaling, four people were arrested yesterday for possession of illegal drugs. They were Lunessa Salas, 46; Christopher Oralde, 33; Peter Amile, 23; and John Ray Abayan. The police were conducting preventive patrol in Sitio Sinalikway when they allegedly chanced upon the suspects in possession of illegal drugs.

In Talisay City, two suspected drug pushers were arrested last Tuesday. Dwight Kit Bernabe, 18, and Reymart Gonzales, 20, were caught in the act of selling illegal drugs to undercover policeman in Sitio Rattan, Barangay Tangke. At least 42 packs of shabu were found in their possession.

Another police operation resulted in the arrest of Jenus Macawil, 52, and Romerico Polinar, 33, in Upper Tulay, Minglanilla town. They were arrested for selling drugs and maintaining a drug den.

In Pitalo, San Fernando, suspected drug pusher Dick Campo Trazo, 28, was caught in possession of three packs of shabu. A 16-year-old was also arrested in Barangay Sangat, San Fernando for possession of two packs of shabu. The suspect was already referred to the department of Social Welfare and Development.

Two suspected drug pushers in Danao City were also arrested during a buy-bust operation yesterday morning in Barangay Looc. The suspects were identified as Lemuel Barriga, 31, and Usman Pabolar, 23.

Police operatives seized at least P200,00 worth of shabu in their possession. — (FREEMAN)