Over P8.2-M ‘shabu’ seized in Naga City; 3 nabbed

BUSTED | Police make an inventory of more than P8-million worth of drugs seized in Barangay Mabolo, Naga City, on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Photo from the Naga City Police Office)

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines — Police in Camarines Sur province foiled a likely expansion of illegal drug distribution activity in the Bicol region with the seizure of P8.2 million worth of crystal meth, locally known as “shabu,” in Naga City on Sunday.

The recovery of the illegal drugs and the arrest of three persons, including one described as a “high-value individual,” were key accomplishments for law enforcers, as Naga City has been considered a key “transit point” for drugs being distributed in the region, according to Lt. Col. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of Bicol police, in a phone interview on Sunday.

The Naga City Police and Regional Drug Enforcement Unit reported the arrest on Sunday of Jamel Daligdig, 24, the main target of the operation; and his cohorts, Sobranel, 39, and a John Carlo, 22, both surnamed Paycana.

The suspects were nabbed in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Mabolo of the city at around 9:36 a.m.

Police Senior Master Sgt. Tobias Bongon, Naga City police spokesperson, said Daligdig was a high-value individual while his cohorts were street-level drug sellers.

“This is a large drug haul so far this year. It’s the biggest accomplishment this year quantity-wise. This will create a big impact on the retailers,” Bongon said in a phone interview on Sunday.

Contained

With the arrest of one of these so-called biggest suppliers in the region, the distribution of illegal drugs in other provinces would also be minimized, according to Calubaquib.

“In cases like this, where [a] big supply from outside the region is contained in Naga City, the illegal drugs will not be spread out in other provinces,” Calubaquib said.

Calubaquib said that while Naga City is one of the transit areas of illegal drugs in the region, they still have no information regarding the source of the large haul in Sunday’s operation.

Police Brig. Gen. Andre Perez Dizon, Bicol police chief, said in an interview on Sunday that their investigation revealed the drugs came from Laguna province but the main supplier was still unknown.

In 2023, the Bicol police confiscated P90.4 million worth of illegal drugs, including marijuana, shabu, and cocaine, from different police operations in the region.

Calubaquib said 1,076 drug personalities were arrested during their campaign against illegal drugs last year.