Suspected drug lord nabbed in Bohol; P1.5M worth of drugs seized

CARMEN, Bohol—A suspected armed drug lord was arrested while close to P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs and two firearms were seized during a buy-bust operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents here on Wednesday morning.

Lawyer Arcelito Albao, executive officer of NBI-Bohol, identified the suspect as Carlo Tagadi-ad, 38, a resident of Poblacion Sur in this town, whom he described as a drug lord based in Carmen.

“But his network include neighboring towns and Tagbilaran City,” Albao said.

Also arrested was Ronald Ronquillo, 35, and suspected to be one of Tagadi-ad’s pushers.

Both Tagadi-ad and Ronquillo would be charged with violations of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Tagadi-ad’s arrest came four days after another alleged drug lord, Eddie Vaño, was arrested at his farmhouse in Barangay Fatima in this town on Saturday afternoon.

Tagadi-ad had 10 armed drug pushers working with him, said Albao.

Lawyer Reynan Augustus Oliva, agent in charge of NBI-Bohol field office, said the operation was hatched after the NBI received a complaint from a concerned citizen about the alleged illegal activity of Tagadi-ad.

The NBI sent operatives to conduct surveillance and test-buy operations. After these yielded positive results, the operation was planned.

Albao said Tagadi-ad was arrested about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at his residence by the virtue of the search warrant issued by Executive Judge Pacita Sarmiento-Gamutan of Regional Trial Court Branch 51.

During the operation, Tagadi-ad was about to fight back against the raiding team but he was cornered in his room.

The NBI agents also picked up Ronquillo who was at Tagadi-ad’s house during the operation.

At least 150 grams of suspected “shabu,” valued at P1.5 million based on the Dangerous Drugs Board estimates, were seized from Tagadi-ad, as well as two guns and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Oliva said the arrest of Tagadi-ad was the result of the NBI’s campaign “Report a crime in your barangay” where residents could inform directly to NBI about the presence of drug pushers in their neighborhood.

“Of course, we will evaluate and verify each report and we will give action,” said Oliva. RC