SUSPECTED shabu stuffed in big plastic packs are being examined following a buy-bust operation in Naga City, Cebu on Tuesday night, Jan. 13. (PDEA-7)
CEBU CITY – Packs of suspected shabu worth P54.4 million were seized from a man who was allegedly the leader of a drug syndicate operating in Central Visayas and Negros Oriental.
The 47-year-old suspect, a certain Clifford, was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tuyan, Naga City, Cebu on Tuesday night, Jan. 13.
Three other persons were also arrested by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas (PDEA-7).
The contraband was found stuffed in plastic packs with Chinese markings.
Leia Alcantara, information officer of PDEA-7, said a case build-up that started last April showed that Clifford was capable of disposing of five kilos of shabu a week.
The suspect allegedly got his supply of illegal drugs in Metro Manila and Mindanao.
“We classified him as a national wholesaler,” said Thessa Tiuzen, assistant regional director of PDEA-7.
Police Col. Abubakar Mangelen Jr., chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said follow-up investigations are underway to identify the suspect’s cohorts.
Mangelen said that their own investigation showed that Clifford is a national-level drug personality who has several contacts tasked to distribute illegal drugs in various areas in the Visayas region.
“He is a national-level personality so he is already the boss. This is an organized independent drug group that is operating in the province,” said Mangelen.