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Indian busted for selling opium in Cebu City

Philippines | Visayas

Indian busted for selling opium in Cebu City

By Calvin Cordova

POLICE examine items seized from the mini-mart of an Indian national who was arrested for allegedly selling opium in Cebu City. (Contributed photo)

POLICE examine items seized from the mini-mart of an Indian national who was arrested for allegedly selling opium in Cebu City. (Contributed photo)

CEBU CITY – An Indian national was arrested for allegedly selling a substance used as an ingredient to make illegal drugs.

Lalith Chellaram Sangwani, 42, was arrested after 24 bottles believed to contain opium were found in his mini-mart during a raid conducted by the Drug Enforcement Group of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas at 3:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, in an arcade in Barangay Kamputhaw here.

Police said the suspect was placed under close monitoring after reports surfaced that he was also selling opium, a substance used to make heroin, codeine, and morphine, in his mini-mart.

During the week-long surveillance, a test-buy was conducted where it was confirmed that opium was sold in the suspect’s mini-mart.

A raid was launched after a search warrant was secured from Executive Judge Anacleto G. Debalucos of Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 17.

Police said 320 grams of opium with an estimated value of P208,000 was seized during the raid.

The suspect will be charged for violating Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Related Tags

Opium Cebu City Indian

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