CEBU CITY – As long as drug suspects have access to cell phones, they will still be able to engage in the illegal drug trade even if they are already in detention.

This was the assessment shared by Police Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Fereo, chief of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, after the Cebu City Police Office seized P47 million worth of shabu from three men last Sunday.

The three men, who were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Guadalupe, were reportedly new recruits of drug convict Rustico Ygot, who is serving his sentence at the Zamboanga Penal Colony.

Ferro said, aside from the Ygot group, there were still other drug syndicates operating in Metro Cebu and other parts of Central Visayas.

"We are continuously monitoring these groups because their activities will continue as long as these jailed drug lords can freely use cell phones to continue their transactions," said Ferro.

Ferro said these drug lords have links to international drug suppliers, particularly in Myanmar. Ferro said that, based on the packaging, the illegal drugs seized in Guadalupe were imported from a foreign country.

Aside from closely monitoring jails to prevent cell phones from being spirited inside, Ferro said the police will also seek assistance of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to intercept drug shipments coming in through seaports.

"Drugs are being mixed with legal cargos to avoid detection. We will request the Customs to help us come up with more stronger measures to stop the smuggling," said Ferro.

While law enforcers have been seizing huge amount of illegal drugs, Ferro reiterated that the police have yet to monitor the presence of shabu laboratory operating in the region.