TWELVE people believed to be members of a bigtime drug group from Mindanao were arrested in a buy-bust operation by the Talisay City Police, with the help of the Provincial Intelligence Branch, at 5:30 p.m. yesterday in Sitio Mananga, Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.

Confiscated were 66.9 grams of alleged shabu at a value of P789,420.

Arrested were Casier Macaraya, 62; Erlando Genodipanon, 30; Rolando Racaza, 49; Tiny Campo, 29; Dexter Carias, 37; Allan Cansancio, 30; Chrisline Fajardo, 22; Venel Barro, 23; Leemarich Cañeda, 36; Rey Bartolabac, 38: Dennis Cabanilla, 39; and Carlo Sabalones 44. They are from Talisay City, Cebu City ang Minglanilla.

Sr. Supt. Manuel Abrugena said it took them a month of surveillance before yesterday’s raid.

Reports said one of the operators of the drug den threatened a police asset, and thus the police immediately conducted a surveillance.

The drug group allegedly operates in southern Cebu and gets its supply from Mindanao.

The police are looking into possible links of the suspects to the Parojinog group. They received information that a big group from Mindanao could be that of the Parojinog’s.

In 2017, Ozamis City Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog Sr. and 11 others were killed by police who were serving arrest warrants in relation to drug charges against the mayor.

Drug paraphernalia were also seized during the operation. A Black Widow magnum revolver was confiscated from Cañeda.

Earlier, bigtime drug lord Franz Sabalones admitted that he took his supply from the Parojinog ring. A member of the ring was reportedly also shot dead in a buy-bust operation in Talisay City.

The police said that other than being involved in illegal drugs, the arrested suspects also work as hired killers. AYB, HBL