P5.4 million worth of Nubain seized in Lapu-Lapu City

CEBU, Philippines —  Authorities have confiscated 21,600 ampules of Nubain worth an estimated P5.4 million in an operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 and PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) past midnight on January 12 in Lapu-Lapu City.

The buy-bust operation led to the arrest of Dioscoro Colo, 33, a cargo service representative from Barangay Manduyong Purok 2 Badian,Cebu.

The police said the supply came from Cambodia.

PDEA-7 Director Levi Ortiz said it has been a while since they learned of any movement of the drug here.

"Basi naa sad silay plano tingali nga i-distribute na pud nila’g balik," he said.

(Perhaps they planned to distribute it again.)

"Addictive man gud ning Nubain. Karon, pagsulod aning shabu, nag-experiment sila, ga-mix sila, ilang gitawag og milkshake, mas grabe pa ang effect, maong nisikat pag-ayo ning Nubain," he said.

(Nubain is addictive. They experimented by mixing it with shabu and they called it the milkshake. The effect is more potent that is why Nubain became more popular.)

The mixture can be fatal to whoever takes it if that person’s body cannot contain it.

Interestingly, Ortiz said, the so-called milkshake is peculiar to Metro Cebu because they have not received reports about it in other areas.

He said there is a possibility that the supply may have been intended for the Sinulog celebration, which has been cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Naay possibility... usa na kay kini gud nga klase nga droga, para man gud ni’s linga-lingaw, party, so naay possibility nga gatuo sila nga naay activities sa Sinulog… sikreto nila nga party-party, basin usa pud ni sa ilang purpose,” he said.

(There is a possibility… this kind of drug is usually taken at parties and events so they might have thought that there will be Sinulog activities… they might have planned secret parties… that might be a purpose.)

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan thanked the PNP and PDEA for the bust.

“Nagpasabot lang kini nga ang atong kapulisan, PDEA, ug ang LGU wala natulog sa pagbantay aning illegal drugs nga dili makasulod sa atong siyudad,” Chan said.

The mayor also warned those engaged in the illegal drug trade that the city will make sure their business will not thrive in Lapu-Lapu.

Meanwhile, Ortiz said they are monitoring another kind of party drug called “liquid ecstasy,” which is being supplied by someone in Metro Cebu.

"Naa tay gipanid-an pero tungod man gud kay nihinay ni sya karon, wala nay mga disco-han, wala nay nga clubs, so nawala na," he said.

(We are keeping an eye on someone… perhaps because there are no disco houses, no clubs at this point, the drug has disappeared.)  —   Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/, MO (FREEMAN)