POLICE arrested four suspected drug personalities and seized more than P1 million worth of illegal drugs in separate operations in Moalboal, Medellin, and Asturias in the past two days.
In Barangay Upper Tumonoy, Moalboal, the cousin of the late broadcast journalist and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency spokesperson Jessie Tabanao and a suspected junkie were caught in a buy-bust last Sunday at 3 p.m.
Senior Insp. Leo Logroño of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) identified the suspects as Glynn Tabanao Aquino and John Michael Cerdeño.
Area of operation
He said the target of their operation was Aquino’s brother Christian, a level 2 drug pusher, who can allegedly dispose of 500 grams to one kilo of shabu per week.
“He operates in the whole of the second district,” said Logroño, deputy chief for operations. “Christian is in the watch list of Camp Crame.”
Christian evaded arrest after he handed sachets of shabu to the PIB operative, who acted as the buyer.
Logroño said the house of the suspect stands on a hill and any movement below can be seen.
Seized inside the house were three large, four medium and a small packs of suspected shabu.
The contraband weighs 92 grams and is worth P1,085,600, according to estimates of the Dangerous Drugs Board.
PIB operatives also seized a rifle grenade and Christian’s bank passbook, which states that the suspect has a deposit of P1 million.
There are shanties outside Christian’s house where customers sniff shabu, added Logroño.
Denial
In an interview with reporters yesterday, Aquino denied he sells drugs like his brother.
Two hours later, police arrested Lida Agbones Ramirez, 39, in a raid in Barangay Lamintak Sur, Medellin.
Senior Insp. Christopher Fernandez said they seized 14 packs of suspected shabu worth P166,734 from the suspect, a level 3 drug pusher, who can sell 200 grams of shabu per week.
The contraband was found inside a sachet of coffee, which was hidden in the suspect’s underwear.
At 5 a.m. yesterday, police caught a level 3 drug pusher in a buy-bust in Barangay Poblacion, Asturias.
Senior Insp. Narciso Abapo identified the suspect as Jude Balsa Estrella, who could allegedly dispose of 50 grams of shabu per week.
Taken from Estrella were 10 sachets of suspected shabu worth P8,850.