MORE than P7 million worth of illegal drugs was recovered in separate police operations in Cebu City last Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019.
Operatives of the Pardo Police Station arrested Martin Abellana, 25, after he was caught selling drugs in Barangay Bulacao at 2 p.m Saturday.
Recovered from Abellana were 475 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P3.2 million.
Police Maj. Jhon Kareen Escober, Pardo police chief, said based on their two-week surveillance, Abellana often sold his drugs not just in Bulacao, but also in Duljo Fatima and Pasil in Cebu City; and in Barangay Casili, Consolacion town.
Escober said Abellana was previously jailed for buying shabu and was eventually released after serving time in prison.
It was after getting a new lease on life that Abellana decided to sell illegal drugs for a living, Escober said.
Escober believes that the shabu recovered from Abellana was meant for his customers as a way to welcome the New Year.
Escober said Abellana reportedly gets his supplies from his elder sister, who is in jail for drug charges.
For his part, Abellana denied the police’s allegations but admitted he collects the drug proceeds from those who sell the drugs for his sister.
A few hours later, three suspected drug pushers were also arrested by operatives of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 7 and Regional Special Operations Group 7 on C. Padilla St, Barangay Duljo Fatima in Cebu City.
Operatives arrested Ariel Abesta, 47, and Aljun Abella, 26, both residents in the area.
Police Capt. Jeoffrey Grande, who led the two teams, were conducting a buy-bust against Abesta while Abella was also arrested after he came down from the former’s house.
Recovered from the two suspects were suspected shabu worth P250,000.
Meanwhile, at dawn on Saturday, operatives of the Cebu City Drug Enforcement Unit arrested three men who were allegedly caught selling illegal drugs in Barangay Apas, in the said city.
Anti-drug operatives led by Police Lt. Col. Frankie Jingle Lugo arrested Jun Empleo, 37, Michael Salazar, 30, and Joshua Patolon, 19.
Recovered from the three were illegal drugs worth P234,000.
A day before, anti-drug operatives of the San Nicolas Police Station in Cebu City apprehended a 16-year-old boy believed to have been a drug courier.
Ricky (not his real name), a resident of Quijano Compound in Barangay Calamba, was caught by police during an anti-drug operation on Friday night.
Police recovered suspected shabu worth P25,000 from Ricky after the operation.
Aside from Ricky, another minor, aged 15, was arrested during a buy-bust in Sitio Galile, Barangay Duljo-Fatima.
Operatives of the Cebu City Intelligence Branch (CIB) arrested Arthur (not his real name) at around 9 p.m. on Friday.
Recovered from him was suspected shabu with an estimated value of P1.8 million.
Police Maj. Randy Caballes, who heads the CIB, said they considered Arthur the youngest regional high-value target based on the records.
Caballes said Arthur’s connection with illegal drugs is tied to family, especially since his father and older brother are currently jailed in separate facilities due to illegal drug selling.
But Arthur, in a separate interview, denied he was selling the illegal drugs firsthand and said he was merely safekeeping it for one of his siblings. (BBT / JKV)