Two drug suspects fall with P5M drugs

CEBU, Philippines — Around ?5.1 million worth of suspected shabu were seized from two high-value drug suspects arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 and the Mandaue City Police Office in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City last Friday afternoon, March 13.

Authorities identified the suspects as Joey Isaac Espra Payusan, 23, a resident of Barangay Ermita, Cebu City, and his alleged accomplice Rongen Paden Quijano, 18, a resident of Sitio Belgium, Barangay Suba, Cebu City. Both are unemployed.

Recovered during the operation were eight packs of suspected shabu weighing around 750 grams with an estimated average market value of ?5,100,000.

Also recovered were the buy-bust money, a digital weighing scale, two cellular phones, one motorcycle, plastic packaging materials, bags, and other non-drug evidence.

Reportedly, the two suspects have been monitored by the PDEA-7 for a case build-up for two weeks already after receiving a tip from a confidential informant.

Authorities also learned that the newly-identified drug suspects are capable of disposing of more or less than two kilograms per week.

The suspects are now under police custody, pending the filing of appropriate charges against them. They will face charges for violation of sections 5 and 11 of Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.