THE Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) operatives caught four persons in separate drug busts in Talisay City, Cebu in the past two days.

Seized from the suspects were 61.36 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu. The contraband has a total Dangerous Drugs Board value of P727,588.

Complaints for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against the suspects before the city prosecutor's office.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, November 10, CPPO anti-narcotics team rescued four minors and arrested three persons in a drug bust in Sitio Long Dream, Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City.

Seized from the suspects were 55.22 grams of white crystals believed to be shabu worth P655,136, a Dangerous Drugs Board value.

Senior Insp. Alejandro Batobalonos, CPPO-PDEU chief, said they caught their target Leo Carlo Cortes, 25, along with his cohort Margeline Gerongay Labay, 20.

A .45 pistol loaded with 15 bullets, a KG9 submachine gun with eight bullets, digital weighing scale and drug paraphernalia were also seized from the suspects.

Alleged user James Gerongay Radana, 24, was also arrested during the operation.

Batobalonos said the minors, all male and aged 15 to 17, were caught sniffing illegal drugs inside the drug den owned by Cortes.

The minors, he said, were turned over to the local social welfare office for counseling.

At 6:30 a.m. Sunday, November 11, Rolando Cabrillos Callino, 29, was caught in Sitio Tigib, Barangay Lagtang. He yielded 6.14 grams of "shabu" worth P72,542. (KAL)