Drugs worth P1 million seized in buy-busts

CEBU, Philippines — Close to P1.2 million pesos worth of shabu were seized from 11 people in separate buy-bust operations carried out in Cebu City and Danao City recently.

In Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City, a 23-year-old man was arrested after yielding more than half a million worth of suspected shabu.

Around 9:40 p.m. last Thursday in Purok 4, operatives of the Cebu City Police Office Intelligence Branch arrested Neil Canatan, a resident of the said place. Canatan, a street-level pusher, was considered as a newly-identified drug personality.

A poseur-buyer successfully transacted with Canatan to buy a pack of shabu worth P1,000 and then signaled policemen waiting nearby to close in and arrest Canatan.

Police searched the suspect and found another 95 grams of shabu on him with a street value of P646,000.

He is temporarily detained at the CCPO headquarters detention cell for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.

In Danao City yesterday morning, around P544,680 worth of shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation which also resulted in the arrest of ten persons.

The buy-bust operations were carried out in barangays Poblacion, Looc, Guinsay, Dunguan, and Maslog which resulted in the confiscated of 80.1 grams of shabu worth the mentioned amount.

In Sitio Tabok, Barangay Poblacion around 5:35 a.m., Reynaldo Calzada, 48, of Sitio Tabok, Poblacion; and his cohort Joseph Cupya, 38, of Barangay Looc, Danao City, were arrested in a buy-bust operation led by intelligence operatives of the Drug Enforcement Unit.

Around 6:40 a.m. in Barangay Guinsay, Danao City, Ronald Pepito, 41; and his cohort Elinio Talinting, 40, both residents of the area, were arrested. A .38 cal. revolver was also seized from Pepito.

In Barangay Looc, Danao City, around 8:10 a.m., Clint Ford Gonzaga, 17; and his cohort Johnmark Cola, 19, both residents of Looc were also arrested.

Later around 9:20 a.m. Argie Barbero, 26, and his cohort Ulysses Plato Jr., 21; both resident of Barangay Dunguan, Danao City, were also arrested in a buy-bust operation.

The last operation around 10:55 a.m. in Barangay Maslog, Danao City, saw the arrest of John Erol Gallardo, 23; and Jovanni Anti Cristof, 41, both residents of the area.

The ten suspects are now detained at the Danao Police Station. — Joebelyn P. Carvajal, CNU Comm intern/BRP (FREEMAN)