A FEMALE suspected drug pusher and her three cohorts were arrested in a buy-bust in a subdivision in Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City last Saturday night.
The operatives of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB) seized P2.3 million worth of drugs from the group, which is led by Brendaliza Igo Bahio.
Chief Insp. Mark Gifter Sucalit, the CIB chief, said Bahio’s group is connected with a big drug group operating in Central Visayas.
He did not identify the leader of the group as it may affect their future operations.
The suspects supply the drug pushers operating in Lapu-Lapu City.
“She is still new in the illegal drug trade,” said Sucalit in a phone interview.
The group, he said, is connected to the operation in Barangay Pusok where an P11-million worth of shabu were seized last Friday night.
Before the operations, the CIB conducted a week-long surveillance on the suspects.
Sucalit said Bahio, 37, is a level three drug pusher and one of the key players operating in the city.
Aside from Bahio, the operatives also collared John Michael Vincent Dungog Tantoco, 34; Aldrin Borris Potot, 35; and Dan Joel Abilla Lasmarias, 36.
Potot, a level two high-value target, surrendered to the police last week and promised not to engage in illegal drug trade anymore.
“He surrendered and pretended he was living a new life, but in truth he was not,” said Sucalit in Cebuano.
Before the arrest at 6:45 p.m., PO2 Eric Fonda acted as the customer and he bought a big pack of white crystals believed to be shabu worth P40,000 from Bahio.
Seized from the suspects were 200.36 grams of white crystals believed to be shabu worth P2,364,248.
The operatives also confiscated a bundle of fake bills with a P1,000 bill placed on top, P3,000 in different denominations believed to be the suspects’ proceeds, and their vehicle.
Complaints for violating Sections 5 and 11 (selling and possession of dangerous drugs) of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Selling illegal drugs is a non-bailable offense.