3 nabbed, P4.4 million in drugs seized in police operation

CEBU, Philippines —  More than P4.4 million worth of illegal drugs were seized from three suspects during a joint operation of authorities in Sitio Lea, Barangay Linao, Talisay City on Saturday dawn.

The suspects were identified as Franz Suaso, 18, single, from Barangay Quiot Pardo, Cebu City; Richard Cabras, 45, from Sitio Alumnos, Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City; and Clark Jerome Arañas, 20, single from Minglanilla town.

Suaso and Cabras were tagged as high-level targets in the provincial level of the police.

The arrest of the three was the result of the joint efforts among the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The operation was led by PIB chief Marlu Conag.

After the operation, the suspects allegedly yielded several packs of suspected shabu weighing 650 grams and valued at P4.42 million based on the Dangerous Drugs Board valuation.

Authorities also recovered the buy-bust money.

The three are now detained in the lock-up facility of the CPPO and are awaiting the filing of appropriate charges against them for alleged violation of Section 5 of RA 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Police have yet to conduct further investigation to determine the source of the illegal drugs confiscated from the three. — JMD (FREEMAN)