P13M drugs seized in Lapu-Lapu City

CEBU, Philippines — Approximately ?13.6 million worth of illegal drugs were confiscated by operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Central Visayas (PDEA-7) last Thursday afternoon in Sitio Kadulang, Barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

PDEA-7 in a joint force operation with Naval Forces Central and the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office also arrested Mark Niño Caliniahan, 26, originally from Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Caliniahan was reportedly monitored for a month in his rented area in Marigondon after authorities received information that he was a major drug supplier to some suspects who had been arrested previously.

Two kilograms of suspected shabu were seized, with an estimated average market value of ?13.6 million. Also confiscated during the operation were buy-bust money, Chinese tea packaging, a cellular phone, and various drug paraphernalia.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect can dispose of one kilogram of shabu weekly, distributed to the highly-urbanized cities in Bohol and Cebu Province.

In another buy-bust operation last Friday, the Cebu City Police Office Mambaling Police Station arrested five individuals in Sitio Panagsama, Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City.

The subject of the operation was an alleged drug den maintainer identified as Erwin L. Cabreros, 38. Operatives also arrested four drug den visitors named Kem Damarillos, 30; Christian Lou G. Arcelo, 35; Ronil L. Baclay, 38; and Nesel E. Cariman, 40.

Operatives seized seven packs of suspected shabu weighing 10 grams with an average market value of ?68,000.

Also confiscated were two empty sachets with suspected shabu residue, the buy-bust money, and other drug paraphernalia.

The six suspects will be charged for the violation of Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, and 15 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — (FREEMAN)