FILE PHOTO: PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos. Photo from PNP PIO
MANILA, Philippines — Three drug suspects were arrested while around P3.57 million worth of suspected crystal meth or “shabu” were confiscated in an anti-narcotics operation in Cebu City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.
A report from the PNP showed that undercover police officers collared the three suspects identified as Iveen Pedrano, 23; Eugene Arces, 22; and Bernadeth Baslag, 23, during a buy-bust in Barangay Guadalupe on Thursday night (April 7).
Authorities said the three are included on the drug watchlist of the regional police.
PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said that while the suspects are “relatively young,” local police have been keeping tabs on the said persons because of reports that they were involved in the local drug trade.
“These suspected drug traffickers will be slapped with cases in violation of Republic Act 9165,” Carlos said.
“They are relatively young but they belong to the persons whom we are closely monitoring due to their reported drug transactions. I congratulate our police operatives for the hard work in making this a successful operation,” he added.
This anti-drug sting is the latest in Cebu, after a series of operations against so-called high-value targets in February and March. On March 3, the PNP reported that P816,000 worth of shabu was confiscated from a suspect in Cebu’s Barangay Mabolo.
Prior to that, a high-value drug suspect carrying around P1.4 million worth of shabu was arrested in Barangay Tisa, as local police said they were anticipating an increase in the demand for illegal drugs as more establishments, including bars and clubs, opened in Cebu City.