CEBU, Philippines - At least P3.5 million worth of suspected shabu was confiscated from an 18-year-old during an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City yesterday morning.
Jovito Apaap, of Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, was arrested by the operatives of the Cebu City Intelligence Branch operatives after he handed over a pack of suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer.
According to Senior Superintendent Romeo Santander, CIB chief, Apaap is one of the henchmen of a bigtime drug pusher identified as a certain “Joefel” and is the one who delivers the illegal drugs to the customers.
Santander said “Joefel” was the subject of a buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 last July, but he was able to escape since he only instructed another person to deliver the illegal drugs that weighed up to one kilo.
He said yesterday’s operation was a part of their follow-up drive against the illegal activities in Duljo-Fatima.
He said the main target of the operations yesterday was Apaap. He was chosen after the received reports that the teenager is the one who always delivers the illegal drugs and receives payment.
“This is not the first time nga nagdala-dala siya as a drug courier so atong gi-conduct-an (og anti-illegal drug operation),” said Santander.
Around noon yesterday, CIB operatives conducted the buy-bust operation against Apaap who was then arrested after handing over a pack of suspected shabu in exchange for P20,000.
Police later found out that the subject had two more packs of suspected drugs in a box.
“Above five grams ang kunohay gipalit namo pero daghan diay iyang nadala,” said Santander.
Apaap was found with two large packs and one medium pack of suspected shabu, all weighing a total 300 grams and amounted to P3,540,000 according to the Dangerous Drugs Board value.
In an interview, Apaap said he was not aware that he was delivering illegal drugs since the packages were wrapped well to hide the contents.
He said he was only asked by “Joefel”, his friend, to deliver the items to a man in a black car, which was the one used by the police in the operation, in exchange for P300.
“Karon ra gyud ko nakasuway ani. Nahibong na lang ko nga gidakop na ko sa mga pulis,” said Apaap as he cried.
However, Apaap admitted he also uses illegal drugs sometimes.
When asked about the whereabouts of Joefel, Apaap just said he does not know since Joefel allegedly just took him there through motorcycle and later drove off.
Santander said yesterday’s operation is a big development in tracing the linkages of known drug pushers.
“At least man lang, kahibawo ta nga existing gihapon and kahibawo na ta kung asa magkuhaan ang certain Joefel,” said Santander.
Apaap is now detained at the Cebu City Police Office and will be facing charges for violating the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002. — /BRP (FREEMAN)