Laborer nabbed with P7 million drugs in possession

CEBU, Philippines —  A laborer was arrested with at least P7 million worth of illegal drugs in his possession during a buy-bust operation conducted by the anti-narcotics operatives of Talisay City Police Station Wednesday evening in Barangay Candulawan,Talisay City.

Police have identified the suspect as Mark Dexter Fernandez, 31, a resident of Sitio Bato, Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.  Fernandez was tagged as a high-value target in the regional level.

Police Lt. Colonel Randy Caballes, chief of Talisay City Police Station, said the suspect yielded several packs of shabu weighing at least 1,020 grams with an estimated value of P7 million.

In an interview, Fernandez said he was only asked to distribute the illegal drugs.

"Gi-suholan rako’g mga singko mil (5,000 pesos)," Fernandez told the media, adding that he does not know the person who paid him.

According to him, he did not know that the items he was asked to deliver were illegal drugs since these were packed.

"Gisugo ra jud ko...wala ko kaila, ipahatod ra diri, nahibong ra sad ko, giputos man gud," he added.

Caballes, however, said the suspect had been under surveillance after they received information about his illegal activities. He explained that the successful buy-bust operation validated their information.

"Duna tay mga information nga nadawat sa iyang involvement, during sad sa mga interview sa atong mga arrested suspects before, nigawas ni iyang ngalan," said Caballes.

In fact, Fernandez was considered one of the major players of illegal drugs in the region. He allegedly could dispose of huge volume of drugs every week.

"Di siya mobaligya ginagmay,dinagko gyud iyaha,"said Caballes.

Aside from Talisay and Cebu City, Fernandez’s sphere of operations also include the neighboring towns in Cebu Province.

The suspect is now detained in Talisay City Police Station and will be charged with a non-bailable offense of selling illegal drugs. — FPL (FREEMAN)