P150T worth of shabu, cash seized from drug suspect

CEBU, Philippines - The police seized at least P50,000 worth of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia and almost P100,000 cash from an alleged noted drug pusher in Bulacao, Talisay City at 6:30 a.m. yesterday.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, however, failed to arrest the subject of the search warrant, Caloy Abalo.

The team, headed by Chief Insp. Fermin Armendarez, implemented the search warrant issued by Judge Soliver Peras of the Regional Trial Court branch 10.

The police seized a big pack of suspected shabu, two medium-sized and 14 small packs of the same substance. They also recovered 19 transparent plastic packs and two tin foils.

Armendarez said they recovered the items when they searched inside the house of Abalo in Sitio Siaboc.

He added they also recovered P73,000 cash in different denominations at the room of the suspect.

During the search, they found the house caretaker Gemma Abellana inside, who denied knowing anything about her employer’s “illegal business.”

Police said Abalo, estimated to be about 40 years old and jobless, is a noted drug pusher who can dispose 25 grams or at least P165,000 worth of shabu every week. Armendarez said they placed the suspect under surveillance since the first week of this month after they were tipped by a local official about his illegal drug activity.

The raid was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 and was witnessed by Bulacao barangay tanods Reynalod Cabañero and George Samson.

Armendarez said they were not able to arrest the suspect because he ran along with some people when they sensed the arrival of the police.

Meanwhile, a level two drug pusher was also able to elude arrest when operatives of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group raided his house Thursday morning in Barangay Gairan, Bogo City.

Illegal drugs amounting to P51,000 and several drug paraphernalia were recovered inside the house of Harry Ybañez, 38, the subject of the search warrant issued by Judge Meindardo Paredes of the Regional Trial Court 7 Branch 13 dated May 23, 2011.

During the search, police recovered one big and one medium plastic pack of suspected shabu, four small packs, two improvised bamboo sealers, a pair of scissors, and a blue notebook containing the lists of daily sales and earnings.

Siclot said they were heading to the residence of Ybañez when somebody informed the suspect about their presence.

Ybañez could allegedly dispose illegal drugs amounting P300,000 a week and his source is someone from Cebu City. (FREEMAN)