P32 million illegal drugs seized in buy-busts

CEBU, Philippines — More than P32 million worth of suspected shabu were confiscated, while three individuals were arrested in two separate operations in Cebu and Bohol last Feb. 27, 2024.

In a buy-bust operation around 10:56 p.m. at Purok 7, Barangay Mansasa, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, a man and his live-in partner were arrested by elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit Provincial Intelligence Unit (PDEAU-PIU), Tagbilaran City Police Station, along with other drug enforcement units in Bohol.

Police identified the arrested high-value individual as Peter John Cuadra Boyonas, also known as "Johny,” and his partner, Mary Ann Milano Baricar.

Both individuals are residents of Barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City.

Recovered from the operation were over four kilograms of suspected shabu, with an estimated selling drug price value of P27,404,000.

In a phone interview with Lieutenant Colonel Norman Nuez, spokesperson for the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO), he said that based on their investigation, the drug transactions of the suspects were mainly done over phone calls.

He said that the male suspect would receive a call from an unknown caller who would give him a heads-up of a second call from another unknown caller who would then advise him about illegal drugs that would be delivered to him.

Nuez said that the male suspect would keep the delivered drugs until such time that he would be instructed to pack the substance into smaller packs.

He stated that the packed drugs would be delivered and distributed by his live-in partner, who allegedly acted as the drug courier, to unknown individuals, mostly in Tagbilaran City.

“Gi-term nato sa drug business sa ilang strategy, bodegero nasila. Kanang lalaki mao gyud na’y bodegero kanang iyang kalive-in mao na’y murag courier mo distribute na sila ilang hatdanan,” Nuez explained.

According to Nuez, these callers would only use aliases or nicknames to hide their identities, and none of the suspects personally knew them.

Nuez added that the suspects would get a P50,000 commission for every kilo of drugs dispatched, which amount is sent to them through an e-wallet transfer.

CEBU CITY

Meanwhile, 705 grams of suspected shabu, amounting to P4,794,000 was also apprehended in an operation conducted by the elements of the City Intelligence Unit (CIU), City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), and Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) at around 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Police arrested a high-value individual identified as Niel Michael Espina, also known as "Mike," 29, and a resident of Barangay Gutlang, Argao, Cebu.

Seized from the suspect were multiple sachets of suspected shabu, P500 buy-bust money, five pieces of P500 bills, and a black sling bag.

Confiscated illegal drugs will be submitted to Cebu City Forensic Unit-7 for chemical analysis while the suspect is temporarily detained at the Cebu City Detention Facility pending the filing of appropriate charges against him. – /ATO (FREEMAN)