P14M shabu seized in Cebu City

CEBU CITY – More than a kilo of suspected shabu worth P14 million was seized by the police in a buy-bust operation past 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Figueroa Street, San Nicolas, Cebu City.

Anti-drug elements of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) arrested Adel Villafuerte, 40, of Sanciangko Street, Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City. Villafuerte was considered a high-value target in the city.

The MCPO undertook the operation since the negotiation began in Mandaue City between the drug dealer and an MCPO policeman who posed as a buyer, áccording to Senior Inspector Rodgene Fodutan, chief of the Jagobiao Police Station in Mandaue City, who led the drug bust.

Fodutan said one of his men, who posed as a buyer, received a text message asking him to proceed to San Nicolas in Cebu City for the exchange.

He said they then coordinated with the Cebu City Police Office to allow them to complete the operation.

Fodutan said they had hoped to catch Villafuerte with some drugs but they never expected they would get a kilo of shabu from him.

Recovered from him were the P10,000 marked money, a sachet of suspected shabu (crystal meth), and a pink sling bag with a large big ziplock plastic containing a kilo of suspected shabu.

Three others, including a minor believed to be cohorts of the subject, were also arrested. Police identified them as Ronnel Ylanan, 29, residing at San Miguel Lorega, Cebu City; Jasmin Villafuerte, 40, residing at Sanciangko St., Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City; and the 17-year old.

Ylanan was in possession of two big packs of suspected shabu while two other big packs of the alleged illegal substance were also seized from Jasmin Villafuerte.

The total confiscated illegal drugs weighed 1,250 grams with a total value of P14,750,000 based on Dangerous Drugs Board value.

The suspects are now detained at the Jagobiao Police Station.