THREE persons, including a woman, were arrested in separate anti-illegal drug operations in Barangay Tanke, Talisay City on Maundy Thursday, March 29.

At least 36 packs of suspected shabu worth P18,000 were recovered from Diosa Laura Maloto, 36; Renan Caneda, 34; and Arsenio Barliso, 20.

At 6:45 p.m. Thursday, police operatives led by Talisay City deputy police chief Inspector Inar Vic Florece conducted a drug bust at Sitio Galaxy, Barangay Tanke after receiving information that a new drug seller was in the area.

The drug bust resulted to the arrest of Maloto, a resident of Sitio Lower, Barangay Mohon, in the same city.

Recovered from Maloto were 30 small packs of suspected shabu and P300 worth of illegal drug proceeds.

Two hours later, Florece and operatives of the city's Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) caught two other suspected drug sellers in the same barangay in separate operations.

Police caught Caneda, a resident of Barangay Tabunok, in the same city, on the act of selling shabu in Sitio Magay, Barangay Tanke around 7:30 p.m.

Recovered from Caneda are three small packs of suspected shabu.

While Barliso was also caught by police selling drugs in Sitio Tunga, Barangay Tanke at 8:30 p.m.

Three small packs of suspected shabu were recovered from Barliso's possession.

Supt. Marlu Conag, Talisay City acting police chief, said the three were considered as newly identified drug sellers in the area.

The three are now currently detained at the Talisay City Police substation pending the filing of charges against them. (JKV/SunStar Cebu)