Two brothers fall in Mandaue drug bust

Two brothers were arrested in a police buy-bust operation in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

Hermie Dela Cruz, 50, and his 38-year-old brother Reno were arrested shortly after they allegedly sold a medium pack of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer inside their house in sitio Panaghagbong past 4 p.m. last Thursday.

Police said several packs of suspected shabu which weighed at least 25 grams were recovered in the house.

The operation was conducted by members of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB), Subangdaku police and Special Weapons and Tactics team.

Chief Insp. Ramil Morpos said police placed the two brothers under surveillance due to complaints that the suspects had been selling illegal drugs not only to adults but also to mnors.

Chief Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, chief of IDMB of the Mandaue City police, said several operations were conducted before against Hermie but he managed to escape.

In an interview, Reno admitted that they owned the suspected packs of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia seized from their house.

Reno said poverty forced them to engage in illegal drug activities.

Reno said he got his drug supply from a contact in barangay Villagonzalo, Cebu City.

The two brothers were detained at the Subangdaku police station pending the filing of charges against them.

The seized illegal drugs were turned ver to crime laboratory for examination./CORRESPONDENTS FE MARIE D. DUMABOC AND NORMAN V. MENDOZA WITH INTERN RYAN NUÑEZ WENCESLAO