FOUR individuals were arrested while engaging in illegal drug activities inside an abandoned bus that was turned into a drug den located along C. Padilla Street, Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City.
The arrest was made during a buy-bust conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Regional Special Enforcement Team, in coordination with the PNP Drug Enforcement Group and the Cebu City Police Office, at 12:02 p.m. Friday, April 25, 2025.
Among those arrested was the alleged drug den maintainer and primary target of the operation, identified by PDEA Central Visayas Director Alex Tablate as alias Ricky, 42, a taxi driver and resident of Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City.
Also caught inside the drug den during the operation were alias Joan, 37, from Duljo Fatima; alias Jose, 31, a bus conductor from the town of Santander; and alias Abelito, 39, a bus conductor from Tabuelan.
Authorities from PDEA 7 seized 12 sachets of shabu weighing approximately 10 grams, with an estimated average market value of P68,000. They also confiscated the buy-bust money and various drug paraphernalia.
All recovered pieces of evidence have been submitted to the PDEA 7 Regional Office Laboratory for chemical analysis and proper disposition.
According to PDEA 7 information officer Leia Alcantara, the drug den was subjected to a three-week case buildup after receiving information from a reliable source.
It was said that Ricky, the alleged drug den maintainer, could sell up to 20 grams of shabu each week, with most of his customers being fellow bus conductors.
Charges for violations of Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, and 12, Article II of Republic Act 9165 are being prepared against the suspects. (AYB)