BUY-BUSTS YIELD P9.2M IN ‘SHABU’

Operatives trace the source of the shabu seized from two suspected pushers in Mandaue City to a supplier who casually transports these on board a passenger bus

Some P9.2 million worth of illegal drugs were seized in separate anti-illegal drug operations in Cebu City and Mandaue City on Tuesday, March 12, and early Wednesday morning, March 13.

The Mambaling Police Station arrested 19-year-old Jonmarc Cardenas of Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City past 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Seized from Cardenas were seven packs of shabu weighing 200 grams with a street value of P1,360,000.

At 12:50 early morning Wednesday, the Talamban Police station operatives arrested a 24-year-old woman in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City in a buy-bust with more than a kilo of shabu.

Vanessa Lauron of Barangay Carreta was found in possession of the P7,031,000 worth of suspected shabu after selling shabu to a police poseur buyer.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Josylindro Getaruelas was arrested in another buy-bust in possession of 25 grams of suspected shabu worth P170,000.

Charges for violation of the anti-illegal drugs law will be filed against the three.

Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) said drug pushers easily transport illegal drugs in passenger buses in Cebu these days.

This was discovered by the anti-narcotics team after the arrest of Juan Lausa, 62, also on Tuesday.

Lausa, a resident of Barangay Tutay, Pinamungajan, reportedly often took the bus going to the Cebu South Bus Terminal in Cebu City. He then distributed his supplies to his customers in the city.

MCPO Director Julian Entoma said his investigators learned about Lausa’s involvement in drug trafficking after the arrest of Aldrick Baynas, 37, and Richard Murillo, 36, in a drug bust on Zuelig St. in Barangay Centro on the same day.

Murillo was identified as the one who supplies shabu to Baynas, who often sold the contraband in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia.

Both suspects hail from Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

In an interview with investigators, Murillo divulged that he got his supplies from Lausa.

Lausa was contacted by an operative who posed as Murillo. The latter then instructed Lausa to deliver a 100-gram pack of shabu to Mandaue City.

It was around noon when Lausa arrived in the city. He was busted by the police, who seized some P700,000 worth of “shabu” from him.

Entoma said Lausa has a son who was convicted of murder and is now detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

The police official believes Lausa has links to alleged drug lord Rustico Ygot, an NBP inmate.

The suspects will face complaints for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.