A big-time drug personality detained in a jail facility in Metro Cebu has been identified as the financier of the two pushers who yielded P41.8 million (not P36.3 million as earlier reported) worth of “shabu” after they were arrested in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City last Friday, Nov. 30.
Guadalupe Police Station Chief Dexter Basirgo refused to identify the inmate because he didn’t want to risk future operations against the latter.
The inmate reportedly is connected to a big-time pusher from Luzon, who supplied the shabu to suspects Michael Carabaña, 28, and Jemuel Enrile, 24.
Enrile and Carabaña allegedly repacked the shabu in sachets and distributed these to pushers in Metro Cebu.
Also caught during the drug bust were Agustin Quijano, 34, and Arnold Arquiza, 37.
Investigators found vital information in the cellular phones of Carabaña and Enrile. The detained drug personality often gave instructions to Enrile about the distribution of shabu.
Basirgo said Enrile and Carabaña have known each other for a long time.
The four men will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In other development, an 18-year-old suspected pusher died in an alleged shootout with the police in a drug bust in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City last Saturday night, Dec. 1.
Rescued minor
The fatality was identified as Raphael “Pael” Arcipe. His alleged cohort Jerie Cataraja Ytang, 24, was arrested.
Cebu City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) operatives rescued a 13-year-old boy in the same operation.
Arcipe reportedly opened fire at the CDEU team after realizing he was dealing with the police. The operatives retaliated that resulted in his death.
On Sunday morning, Dec. 2, five persons were caught in a drug bust inside a beauty parlor in Barangay Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City. They yielded P600,000 worth of illegal drugs to operatives of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB).
The target of the operation was Marilou Apa, 45. She was arrested with her alleged supplier Patricia Lim, 64; and suspected users Hildo Gabat, 28; Ramil Jakosalem, 32; and Eugene Potayre, 29.
CIB Deputy Chief Jaime Tolentino said they are monitoring establishments that are open for 24 hours as these might be venues for drug deals.
Tolentino said Apa is on their watchlist as a high-value target. She allegedly replaced her live-in partner Ariel Oronan, who was killed in a police operation last April in Barangay Poblacion.
A pusher caught by CIB last week confessed that he got his supplies from Apa. This information was confirmed Apa was placed under surveillance.
Tolentino said Lim, Apa’s alleged source of shabu, is the mother of alleged big-time drug personality Jessie “Kano” Casado, who was arrested last September for killing a Korean national inside a motel in Cebu City.
The CIB received reports that Lim and her children are involved in selling shabu. Aside from Jessie, she has another child who was arrested in a drug bust. (FROM AYB, HBL & FMD OF SUPERBALITA CEBU/KAL)