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'Sari-sari' store owner nabbed in drug bust

Philippines | Luzon

'Sari-sari' store owner nabbed in drug bust

By Calvin Cordova

CEBU CITY – The National Bureau of Investigation arrested a woman in a buy-bust operation beside one of the biggest churches here on Wednesday, July 31.

The NBI-Central Visayas identified the suspect as Norma Talaba, who owns a “sari-sari” or community convenience store beside the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Barangay San Roque.

A concerned churchgoer tipped the NBI-7 that illegal drug activities are being conducted in a sari-sari store allegedly used by the suspect as a front for her illegal drugs trade.

The suspect’s patrons included taxi drivers, “habal-habal” (motorcycle taxi) drivers, and some churchgoers, the NBI-7 said.

The NBI-7 conducted a surveillance in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas which confirmed her activities.

Talaba was apprehended shortly after she received the marked money from a poseur-buyer.

Recovered from her was 21 sachets of suspected shabu valued at P15,000.

Talaba faces charges for possessing and selling illegal drugs.

Related Tags

Buy-bust operation NBI 7 Cebu City Drug pusher

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