‘Drug queen' eludes police; ‘cohort' falls
Authorities step up drive against illegal drugs in Consolacion
A SUSPECTED big-time drug pusher tagged by police as the “drug queen” of Consolacion eluded arrest, but her alleged cohort was arrested during a buy-bust in Barangay Pulpogan late Thursday afternoon.
Four large packs of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu worth P100,000 were seized from 73-year-old Rufino Cinco during the police operation.
SPO1 Reynaldo Solante of the Cebu Provincial Police Office's Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) said the subject of the buy-bust was Isyat Pepito, who can allegedly dispose of 200 grams of shabu in a week.
“Mura gyud na siya og drug queen,” Solante told Sun.Star Cebu.
Signal
During the operation, a police agent posed as buyer and handed Pepito P1,000. When the police agent gave the signal to other operatives, Pepito had handed the money to Cinco. Pepito then ran.
Solante said the raiding team had a hard time finding the suspect in the area because the police did not want to get noticed by people attending a wake.
Solante said Pepito is allegedly running the drug trafficking group her husband, Bebot, formed.
Bebot has been in hiding since his was shot and killed by the police during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Yati, Liloan on March 14.
Efforts
Solante said the police intensified efforts to curb illegal drugs trade in the area following reports on the activities of Pepito and Francisco Ariva's groups.
The police killed five members of the Ariva group shortly after a raid on Bebot Pepito's drug peddling operations.
During a tactical interview, Cinco told the police that he got Isyat convinced him to join the drug trafficking group.
Solante said Cinco used his sari-sari store as a front for the illegal drug operations. It is reportedly a favorite hangout of drug users.
“Father daw ilang tawag niya (They call him, Father),” Solante said.
A complaint for violating the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against Cinco.