3 arrested, P7 million drugs seized

CEBU, Philippines —  At least P7 million worth of suspected shabu was seized while three individuals were arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Talamban Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit at a subdivision in Barangay Bacayan, Cebu City on Tuesday afternoon.

Arrested were Rulan Mahusay Merkado, 29; Ryan Arceo Zanoria, 38; and Reynaldo Avila Ardina, 36, who all live at Phase 2B, Villa Leyson Subdivision.

Police Major Alvin Llamedo, chief of Talamban police, said that the suspects have been placed under surveillance and monitoring by the authorities for about two months before the operation was finally hatched.

Llamedo said that the name of “Merkado” often surfaced as the source of the illegal drugs of suspects arrested in previous operations.

Merkado allegedly told the police that the contact of his companion who was responsible for arranging the illegal transaction of drugs intended for Cebu allegedly came from Abuyog, Leyte.

During the operation, authorities seized from the suspects various packs of suspected shabu weighing a total of 1.030 grams with a value of more than P7 million.

The suspects are now detained in Talamban Police Station detention facility pending the filing of charges for violation of R.A. 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act against them. — JMD (FREEMAN)