Level 2 pusher arrested; packs of shabu seized

CEBU, Philippines - The city police arrested a level two drug pusher and seized packs of suspected shabu worth almost P1 million in separate operations in Barangay Pasil and Tejero yesterday.

In the operation in Barangay Pasil, personnel of the San Nicolas Police Station, arrested Johdel Ceballes, 21, following a search of his residence in Sitio Mahayahay, Pasil at past 6 a.m.

They recovered a big pack, 19 medium packs, and 19 small packs of suspected drugs estimated to worth P400,000. The search warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras.

San Nicolas Police chief, Senior Inspector Chuck Barandog, said Ceballes has been peddling drugs for almost two years and is on the watchlist of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

Barandog said they conducted surveillance for two months and conducted a test buy operation on the suspect twice. When submitted for examination, the samples tested positive of shabu, prompting the police to apply for a search warrant.

A level two drug pusher can dispose of at least 200 grams of shabu per week.

Ceballes also has a standing warrant for a frustrated murder case pending before the sala of RTC Judge Ester Veloso.

Meanwhile, the police weren’t very luck in the operation in Barangay Tejero at 10 a.m. as the subject of the bust eluded arrest.

The subject of the operation, Herodes Dela Cruz of Sitio Villagonzalo II, fled reportedly after he sensed he was transacting with a poseur buyer. The poseur buyer, an operative of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, managed to buy a pack of shabu worth P500 from Dela Cruz.

CIB chief Superintendent Romeo Santander said Dela Cruz was placed under surveillance for two weeks before the operation was hatched. – Bryner L. Diaz/JMO (FREEMAN)