P6.8 million shabu seized: Drug ‘boss’ eludes, underling arrested

CEBU, Philippines — Over P6 million worth of suspected illegal drugs were confiscated from a high-value target in a buy-bust operation conducted in Sitio Maharlika, Barangay Tipolo Mandaue City on Saturday afternoon.

The suspect was an alleged high-value city target identified as Jose Jaime Chua, 47, from B. Aranas Extension, Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City.

Confiscated from Chua was about a kilo of suspected shabu valued at P6.8 million. The illegal drugs were brought to the crime laboratory for examination.

Police Major Regino Maramag Jr., chief of Pardo Police Station, revealed that it wasn’t really Chua that they have been monitoring for four months but Chua’s “boss” that Maramag refused to identify so as not to derail investigation.

“Di ni siya manghatag ug di niya kaila (He won’t sell to buyers he does not know),” Maramag explained Chua’s method of disposal, adding that the suspect operates with the help of some cohorts.

Maramag said that during their surveillance, Chua’s name just surfaced in the middle of their communication with Chua’s boss.

“Actually, hindi siya ang ini-expect naming magde-deliver, yung boss niya. Timing siya yung nasa buy-bust operation (We were not expecting him to deliver the drugs. We expected the boss),” Maramag said.

Maramag said Chua operates within Metro Cebu. During the operation, Chua decided to meet up with the poseur buyer at a street in Mandaue City.

Maramag said further investigation is being conducted for the possible capture of Chua’s boss. (FREEMAN)