Cebu City buy-bust: Construction worker nabbed with ₱9.69M suspected shabu

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 30-year-old construction worker was arrested after authorities seized 27 packs of suspected shabu weighing around 1.425 kilograms and valued at an estimated ₱9.69 million during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Pardo, Cebu City, on Thursday afternoon, August 13.

The operation was conducted at around 3:44 p.m. in Sitio Lusimba by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 7 (PDEA 7) and Inayawan Police Station.

Buy-bust

PDEA 7 identified the arrested suspect as alias “John,” 30, a construction worker and resident of the area.

Authorities recovered 27 packs of suspected shabu with a combined weight of around 1,425 grams and an estimated average market value of ₱9,690,000.

Also seized were the buy-bust money, one cellular phone and other non-drug evidence.

READ: Laguna cops seize P2.3-M shabu from 3 suspects

Case buildup

The operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant, with authorities conducting an eight-week case buildup before carrying out the buy-bust operation.

Authorities said the suspect was allegedly disposing of around 2 kilograms of shabu weekly.

The operation resulted in the suspect’s arrest after the buy-bust transaction was completed.

Arrest anniversary

According to PDEA-7, the latest arrest came exactly three years after the suspect was previously arrested by the Philippine National Police for possession of dangerous drugs.

Records showed that he was arrested on August 13, 2023, for alleged violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Charges prepared

As of Friday, August 14, the suspect remains in PDEA 7 custody in Lahug, Cebu City.

The seized drug evidence has also been submitted to the PDEA 7 Regional Office Laboratory for chemical analysis and proper disposition.

He is now set to face new charges for alleged violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of RA 9165, covering the sale and possession of dangerous drugs.

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