Drugs worth P17.2 million seized, 6 suspects fall

CEBU, Philippines — More than two kilos of illegal drugs worth over P17.2 million were confiscated in separate anti-drug operations in Cebu City and Bohol that resulted in the arrest of six persons, including a Russian National.

Joint operatives of the City Intelligence Unit, City Drug Enforcement Unit, and Cebu City Police Office arrested on Tuesday evening, March 12, two suspected drug personalities during a buy-bust operation in Purok 8, Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.

Police identified the suspects as Ryan Sususco Balansag alias “Insek”, 38; and Marlon Jabonero Lopez alias “Tata”, 42. Seized from them were two kilos of shabu worth P13.6 million.

Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, CCPO director, told The Freeman the suspects were placed under surveillance after the police were tipped of their illegal activities.

Dalogdog said the suspects allegedly sourced their illegal drugs from a known drug personality inside the Cebu City Jail. Balansag is allegedly a big time pusher who is capable of disposing of at least two to three kilos of shabu every week.

A follow-up operation was also conducted few hours later in Sitio Puntod, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City resulting in the arrest of another drug personality and the confiscation of 508 grams of suspected shabu worth P3,454,400.

The suspect was identified as Joel Laogico Ocarol Jr., also known as “Ondong”, 22-years-old and a resident of Sitio Concepcion, Barangay Pasil, Cebu City.

Police considered Ocarol as a high value target and was in the drug watchlist of Mambaling Police Station.

Police Major Jonathan Bethooven Taneo, chief of Mambaling Police Station, said the suspect could dispose of at least 500 grams to a kilo of drugs weekly. His areas of operation include Pasil and neighboring barangays.

Meanwhile, a Russian national was arrested during a buy-bust operation in Purok 6, Barangay Basdiot, Loon town in Bohol. Operatives of the Bohol Police Provincial Office swooped down on a drug den when they chanced upon Russian National Viktor Tutov, 38. He was allegedly married to a Boholana.

Aside from Tutov, the police also arrested drug den operator Castor Bangco, 36; and Chun Jen Panis, 33. Seized during the operation were 12 grams of shabu worth P240,000.

According to Leia Alcantara, information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency- 7, Tutov was married to a Filipina and had been to the Philippines for seven months but would occasionally go home to Russia. The suspects are currently detained by the authorities pending the filing of appropriate charges against them. — /FPL (FREEMAN)