Shabu lab or warehouse probably in Cebu; CCPO chief cites hefty supply

CCPO is coordinating with the Cebu City Jail after the drug suspect who yielded more than 600 grams of shabu revealed that his contact is inside the facility Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director clarifies that she arrived at this conclusion based on h

The seizure of P6.5 million worth of shabu last Monday has led Cebu City Police Office Director Royina Garma to suspect a shabu laboratory or warehouse may be operating in Cebu.

“You can just simply order and in a few minutes, it’s produced, so maraming (there’s plenty of) supply,” she said.

“It’s just abundant.” Police arrested Reinhard Moreno in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City last Monday and confiscated more than half a kilo of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) from him. Moreno reportedly told the police that he had a contact inside the Cebu City Jail.

Senior Supt. Garma said she is coordinating with Supt. Renante Rubio, Cebu City Jail warden, to prevent phones from being sneaked inside the facility, which inmates could then use to do business with contacts outside.

Does a shabu laboratory or a warehouse exist in Cebu?

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Senior Supt. Royina Garma does not want to rule out the possibility after P6.5 million worth of shabu was confiscated from a high-value target in Barangay Sambag 2 last Monday.

“I strongly believe na may bodega dito (there’s a warehouse here). I strongly believe na meron at yan yung tinututukan namin ngayon (there is one and that’s what we’re looking into right now)… di namin mahanap pa (we cannot locate it yet) but we have to really work on it because (the volume of drugs is) unusual yung dami. You can just simply order and in a few minutes you can just produce, so maraming (there’s a lot of ) supply,” she said.

Then there are reports that drug pushers can easily procure shabu, she said.

“It’s just abundant, madami. You can just order now balikan mo (and you come back for it). And then ang ganda ng quality crystal pa gud, buo-buo pa gud di gud siya na powder na nakit-an nimo nga talagang nadurog (and the drug is of excellent quality),” she said.

Garma, however, clarified that she arrived at this conclusion based on her analysis of how drug transactions are carried out in the streets.

“I’m just analyzing the situation and this is just based on my analysis on how the transactions are being made sa street level na may (that there is a) possibility na meron nga (that there is a) stockhouse or meron pagawaan (a shadictatorship. bu lab). Posible pud kay ang (It’s possible because of the) style of operation, sa bilis (how quick it is), sa dami (the volume) at (and) quality, posible. On my own analysis,” she said.

The city director said they are coordinating with Supt. Renante Rubio, Cebu City Jail warden, to prevent phones from being sneaked inside the facility.

Inmates with drug contacts are able to conduct transactions with the outside world using the phones.

Last Monday, Reinhard Moreno was arrested by the Abellana police after he was caught with more than 500 grams of shabu.

Moreno revealed that his contact is in the Cebu City Jail.

Garma said that the inmate contacted by Moreno was placed in isolation after the jail warden was told about his alleged activity.

“The jail warden and his staff are also doing their best in preventing cellular phones from being sneaked inside even if they are understaffed and the jail’s capacity to house the inmates is already exceeded,” Garma said.

She said that a police outpost was established near the facility to help jail personnel against jail visitors who try to sneak contraband through various means.