Buy-bust operations yield P6.5 million drugs

CEBU, Philippines — At least P6.5 million worth of illegal drugs was seized in different operations by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU)-7 and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 last Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

In a buybust operation on 5th St., Happy Valley Brgy. Labangon, Cebu City, Tuesday night, at least P1.7M worth of shabu was seized and a man named Xaviery Tagolino Comedia, a.k.a.  Omni , 31, a resident of Sitio Marpa, Brgy. Pulpogan, Consolacion, was arrested.

According to RPDEU-7, Comedia was a bodegero and a delivery man of illegal drugs, whose contact is from Abuyog, Leyte.

Authorities said they monitored Comedia s activities for three weeks, where they noted that he can dispose 500 grams of shabu per week in the areas of Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu and the Province of Cebu.

Comedia is currently in the RPDEU-7 custodial facility and will face charges of violation of Sec 5 and 11 Art 2 RA 9165.

Meanwhile, PDEA-7 operatives seized P4.8 million worth of illegal drugs during their buy-bust operations in Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Mandaue City on July 16, 2024 where five individuals were caught.

In Sitio Bangan, Cabancalan, Mandaue City, operatives of PDEA-7 together with Naval Forces Central, Mandaue City Police Office Intelligence Unit, and Drug Enforcement, as well as MCPO Station 4 arrested Rex Navasca, 20, a baker from Barili town and is a high value target.

Seized from Navasca were two packs of shabu weighing 500 grams and worth P3.4 million, buy-bust money, a motorcycle, and other non-drug evidence.

In Bohol, operatives of the PDEA Bohol Provincial Office together with the Bohol Police Provincial Office Drug Enforcement Unit, Bohol Maritime Police, and Tagbilaran City Police Station arrested another high-value target in a buy-bust operation in Purok 4, Mansasa, Tagbilaran City.

Macrino Clarete IV, 33, a construction worker was arrested, and seized from him were nine packages of illegal drugs weighing 205 grams worth P1.3 million.

In a separate operation, operatives of the PDEA Negros Oriental Provincial Office, together with the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, and the PNP Regional Intelligence Unit conducted a buy-bust operation in Purok 4, Boloc-boloc, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, which resulted in the destruction of a drug den.

Arrested during the operation was the subject of the buy-bust and maintainer of the drug den, Jhon Renz Duran, 23, unemployed; and two visitors of the drug den, Lucito La ojan, 45, telecom cable installer and Mateo Pascual, 42.

Authorities seized eight packs of suspected shabu weighing 6 grams worth P40,800, buy-bust money and various illegal drugs. — /ATO (FREEMAN)