Former martial arts fighter nabbed with P3.4 million shabu

CEBU, Philippines — Half a kilo of shabu was confiscated from the former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter when the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-7) raided his house on Sunset Drive, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City early morning on Saturday.

The operatives of the PDEA Regional Office-7 led by Director Levi Ortiz together with the Naval Forces Central implemented the search warrant against Slotty Avila, 34 years old, a former professional mixed martial arts fighter.

The operatives identified Avila as a major drug personality operating on Cebu Island.

Confiscated during the operation were 25 packs of suspected shabu weighing 500 grams and worth P3.4 million, three digital weighing scales and others.

The PDEA-7 received information about the illegal activity of the arrested person and built up a case within a month. They also found out that he can dispose of 500 grams of illegal drugs per week in Metro Cebu and other parts of the Province of Cebu.

The modus operandi of the suspect includes using packaging for online shopping and courier services and wrapping the shabu so that the parcel is legitimate when handed over to the recipient.

The arrested suspect will be charged with violation of Section 11 and 12 of Article II of Republic Act 9165.

Talisay City Operation

Meanwhile, a 47-year-old man was nabbed for illegally trading drugs inside his residence following a buy-bust operation conducted by the Talisay City Police Station on Friday night.

The operation was conducted in line with their Oplan Limpyo Talisay initiative.

Authorities identified the suspect as Remegio Esabida Bastatas alias Remeqiu Bastatas, a resident of Purok Gumamela, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City, Cebu.

The Talisay City police stated that the operation was initiated after they received reports of the suspect’s involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Bastatas is believed to have started his illegal activity in October this year, where he gets supplies from a certain individual named “Kaluha” a resident of Sitio Sawsawan in Barangay San Roque.

Reports stated that the suspect trades drugs within his neighborhood and could dispose of 3 grams of shabu per week.

Recovered from the suspect were 11 pieces of a small triangular heat-sealed transparent sachet containing a suspected shabu weighing 0.55 grams with a standard price of P3,740.

Also, one unit caliber .38 revolver with no markings and a serial number containing two live bullets and a transparent plastic believed to be used as a drug container was seized.

The suspect will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.) — Robhe Jane Yara, GMR (FREEMAN)