MORE than P7 million worth of illegal drugs were recovered while four suspected drug pushers were arrested in separate operations conducted by police and anti-narcotics operatives in Cebu City on Friday night, Nov. 22, 2019.
Anti-drug operatives of the Pardo Police Station arrested two men after they were caught selling drugs in Sitio Isla Verde, Barangay Inayawan at 10 p.m. on Friday.
Police Maj. Jhon Kareen Escober, Pardo Police Station chief, said during the operation they arrested March Joseph Labrado, 24, and Richard Liquin Gadiane, 28, both residents of the area.
Recovered from the two suspects were more than a kilo of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P7.1 million.
Escober told Superbalita Cebu they operated on the two suspects after a drug suspect they arrested a few days ago reported that Labrado often provided him with illegal drugs.
Escober, however, refused to disclose the name of their informant due to security reasons.
After conducting a surveillance on the operations of the two suspects, Escober immediately ordered his team to conduct a buy-bust.
Escober said Labrado is considered a “regional highvalue drug target” due to the high amount of drugs he can dispose.
Thirty minutes later, two suspected drug pushers were arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Central Visayas (PDEA 7) in Sitio Lutaw-Lutaw, Barangay Sto.Niño.
Leia Alcantara, PDEA 7 spokesperson, said their operatives arrested Jack Branzuela, 31, and Jhon Luis Daan, 26, both residents of Sitio Salvador, Barangay Tangke, Talisay City.
Recovered from the suspects were 100 grams of suspected shabu worth P680,000.
Alcantara said to hide their illegal activities, Branzuela worked as a truck boy while Daan served as his helper.
Hearing of the two suspects’ illegal activities, PDEA 7 agents arranged a buy-bust.
Alcantara admitted that it took some time before their agents could arrest Branzuela and Daan as they would often change meeting places which began at the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) then ended at the back of the Cebu City Hall, where they were arrested.
The four suspects are set to be charged for illegal drug possession and selling. / BBT / JKV