Courier-sent drugs worth P4M seized

CEBU, Philippines - Around P4 million worth of suspected shabu was seized in what was considered as one of the biggest hauls of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Western Visayas in recent years.

Superintendent Gerardo Ulanday, Cadiz police chief, said the contraband containing 700 grams of shabu was sent through LBC, a private courier company.

Ulanday identified the suspect as Jonathan Badilles while his companion, identified as Reylan Majurucon, evaded police arrest. Both picked up the package from the LBC office in Villena Street, Cadiz City at around 4:30 p.m.

PDEA regional head Paul Ledesma, according to Ulanday, said there is pattern on the shipment, as he cited arrests with the same modus in the region.

Ulanday said the suspect was already in the custody of PDEA-6 and will be subjected for drug testing.

The seizure came after the arrest of Jonathan Badilles following a buy-bust operation at Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

The operation's subject, a certain Kerth Reylan Majarucon, eluded arrest. Majarucon fled on board his motorcycle and even tried to bump a PDEA operative.

Charges were already filed against the two Tuesday afternoon.

Ledesma said that violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Article 2 of the Republic Act 9165 or the sale and possession of illegal drugs charges were filed in the Cadiz City Prosecutors Office against the suspects.

Ledesma stressed that police are conducting hot pursuit operation against the other suspect while the suspect in custody is tested positive for drugs.

Prior to that, PDEA received a report about a meet up of known illegal drug personalities operating in Negros Occidental at a pension house, which was allegedly owned by Majarucon's family.

The information apparently coincided with an earlier tip given bu PDEA-NCR about the area where shabu suppy was brought.

According to reports, the illegal drugs supply came from Manila and was placed inside a speaker.

Majarucon was allegedly the supplier of shabu in Cadiz City and his clout could stretch to as far as Bantayan Island in Cebu.

Only last week, PDEA also intercepted a package of shabu weighing 276.4 grams placed inside a radio and was sent through LBC.

Prior to that, PDEA operatives also arrested a 20-year old woman after she claimed a package containing around P12 million worth of shabu from LBC in Iligan City. - Marchel P. Espina, Jennifer P. Rendon/JMD (FREEMAN)