By Alexander Lopez
BUTUAN CITY – Three suspects were arrested while PHP3.4 million worth of “shabu” was seized during a pre-dawn police buy-bust operation in Purok 1, Barangay Canlanipa, Surigao City on Thursday.
The arrested suspects, considered high-value individuals (HVIs), were only identified in the report as alias “Kabaw,” 37, a tricycle driver, and two other cohorts aged 47 and 35, all residents of Surigao City.
Seized from the suspects during the 2:50 a.m. operation were 11 plastic sachets containing 500 grams of shabu.
The report said the 47-year-old suspect was arrested by authorities in 2014, while alias Kabaw was detained in 2016 for the same crime. Both were released in 2025 after completing their sentences.
“The intelligence-driven operations of Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office (SDNPPO) have once again proven their effectiveness, leading to the arrest of suspects caught selling illegal drugs,” said Col. Warren Dablo, the director of SDNPPO, in a statement on Thursday.
He also recognized the support of the operatives of the police’s First Surigao del Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company in the success of the buy-bust.
“We will continue to dismantle this drug trade, piece by piece, until every last dealer is brought to justice and our community is safe,” Dablo said.
The suspects in custody are now with the Surigao City police as charges for violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against them. (PNA)
