TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – Four individuals were arrested and over P48 million worth of shabu was confiscated in three separate buy-bust operations in Tagbilaran City, Panglao town, and Dauis town in less than a week.
The Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) identified the first two suspects as Peter John Cuadra, 23, and Mary An Miano, 19, both residents of Barangay Bool in Tagbilaran City.
According to Police Captain Yolando Bagotchay Jr., chief of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), they conducted the first operation around 11 p.m. along Mahogany Street in Purok 7, Barangay Mansasa, Tagbilaran City, after receiving information that the couple was involved in large-scale drug trafficking.
A police poseur buyer was able to buy a sachet of shabu worth P70,000 from the suspects. When the transaction was completed, the police operatives immediately arrested the couple and recovered 14 more large sachets of shabu from their possession.
The seized shabu weighed a total of 4.03 kilograms and had a street value of P27,404,000.00 based on the Dangerous Drugs Board’s standard drug price.
The second operation was conducted by the Panglao Municipal Drug Enforcement Team (MDET) led by Police Captain John Khalev Sanchez, chief of police, around 1:07 a.m. at Purok 5, Libaong, Panglao.
The MDET arrested Jopri Roberto Osorio, 41, a resident of Barangay Palo, Loay, Bohol, who was also a high-value individual on the drug watchlist.
The police poseur buyer bought a sachet of shabu worth P100,000 from Osorio. Upon his arrest, the police recovered 1.05 kilograms of shabu from his possession, which had a street value of P7,140,000.00
The third operation was conducted by the Dauis Municipal Police Station (DMPS) led by the PIU around 5:13 p.m. at Purok 5, Barangay Mayacabac, Dauis.
The DMPS arrested Guardson Binarao, alias Gardson, 32, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Tagbilaran City, who was also a high-value individual on the drug watchlist.
The police poseur buyer bought a sachet of shabu worth P100,000 from Binarao.
Upon his arrest, the police recovered 2.15 kilograms of shabu from his possession, which had a street value of P14,620,000.00
The operations were witnessed by barangay officials and media representatives.
Police Colonel Lorenzo Batuan, director of the BPPO, commended the PIU, the PDEU, the MDET, and the DMPS for the successful operations, which he said were among the biggest drug hauls in the province.
He also urged the public to continue supporting the police in their campaign against illegal drugs.
The suspects are now detained at the BPPO custodial facility and will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.