Taxi driver yields P13.6-M ‘shabu’ in Mandaue


CEBU CITY — At least two kilos of suspected shabu worth P13.6 million were seized from a taxi driver in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City.


Jorge Phala, 52, was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Mandaue City Police Office past 5 a.m.on Wednesday, March 9.

At least two kilos of suspected shabu worth P13.6 million were confiscated from a taxi driver in a buy-bust operation in Mandaue City on Wednesday, March 9.(Photo via Calvin D. Cordova / MANILA BULLETIN)


Police said Phala served as a drug courier for a local drug group.


“We are now conducting follow-up investigations to identify his cohorts and determine the source of illegal drugs,” said Brig. Gen. Roque Vega, regional director of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas.


Police said Phala, a resident of Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City, was capable of selling four to six kilos of shabu a week.


At the time of the arrest, the suspect was about to deliver illegal drugs in Mandaue and Bogo City.


“I would like to commend the team for this successful anti-illegal drug operation,” said Vega.