PNP captures another high-value target for drugs in Cebu City sting

Map of Cebu City.

MANILA, Philippines — Another high-value target was arrested in Cebu City after the latest anti-drug operation conducted by local authorities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.

According to reports from PNP’s Public Information Office, 10 sachets of various sizes containing suspected crystal meth or shabu were seized from the suspect identified as Randy Aranduque, 39, from Barangay Basak Pardo in Cebu during the operation led by the local police’s drug enforcement unit on Sunday afternoon.

Police said the seized 10 sachets of suspected illegal substance weighed around 150 grams which could have a street value of P1.02 million. Operatives also recovered the money used during the buy-bust, as well as a gray crossbody bag, from the suspect, police added.

Aranduque was brought to Inayawan Police Station in Cebu City for processing while the pieces of evidence obtained were turned over to the PNP Cebu City Forensic Unit for examination, the PNP said.

Prior to this operation in Cebu City, local police confiscated Thursday 17 packs of shabu worth around P816,000 and also arrested in another operation a high-value drug suspect who yielded around P1.4 million worth of shabu in Barangay Tisa.

Local police said the intensified anti-drug operations are in anticipation of a likely increase in the demand for illegal drugs as more establishments, including bars and clubs, open in the city amid lowered COVID-19 curbs.

READ: Demand for illegal drugs may increase as most bars open in Cebu City 

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said that the latest operation in Cebu City is proof that the police force is intent on neutralizing the drug trade in the country.

“We continue to focus to further intensify police operation against these drug syndicates and strengthen PNP’s mechanism to eradicate illegal drug trade in the country, particularly involving high-value targets and wholesalers,” Carlos said.

KGA