ANTI-NARCOTICS operatives seized more than P2 million worth of illegal drugs in separate drug busts in Cebu City within two hours.

The police confiscated 170 grams of suspected shabu after arresting five suspected pushers.

At 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, the City Intelligence Branch led by Chief Insp. Chuck Barandog arrested siblings Patrick Casicas, 29, and Benny Jane, 37, outside a hospital in Barangay Kamputhaw. The suspects yielded 110 grams of “shabu” worth P1.3 million.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Royina Garma said the suspects possibly sourced their supply from Metro Manila.

Patrick denied owning the contraband, saying a friend left it with him and promised to pay him for keeping it.

“He has been leaving it with me since last year and gave me P5,000 each time,” he said in Cebuano. “I never sold drugs.”

He said his friend distributed illegal drugs in Bohol, but he did not divulge the friend’s name.

At 12:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30, Pardo Police Station operatives seized 60 grams of “shabu” worth P708,000 in the operation against Marivic Deguitos, Aljay Lahaylahay and Rosemarie Batongbacal in Sitio Ibabao, Barangay Mambaling.

The arrested suspects are new players in the drug trade, Garma said.

CCPO and the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils updated their list of drug personalities last week as there were pushers who transferred to other places.

The suspects will be facing complaints for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Meanwhile, in Talisay City, the police chief, Supt. Marlu Conag, said he is not fazed by the intelligence report that big-time drug personalities had hired hit squads and offered to pay them P20,000 for each slain police officer.

He said the personnel assigned in Barangay Tanke, a coastal village where illegal drug trade is rampant, are also under threat.

Conag said they earned the ire of drug groups as they are relentless in their anti-narcotics operations and they are going after high value targets (HVTs), who are the suppliers to small-time pushers.

HVTs in Talisay City, he said, are armed and organized. From AYB of Superbalita Cebu, USJ-R Intern Angerlo SeismundO/ KAL