Danao City buy-bust: HVI nabbed with ₱710K shabu

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 32-year-old man tagged by police as a high-value individual (HVI) in the illegal drug trade was arrested after authorities seized suspected shabu worth around ₱710,532 during a buy-bust operation in Danao City, Cebu, late Friday evening, August 7.

The operation was conducted around 11:09 p.m. in Purok Pati, Barangay Maslog, by personnel of Danao City Police Station in coordination with the Cebu Police Intelligence Team (PIT) and Regional Intelligence Unit 7 (RIU 7), with coordination from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Buy-bust operation

In an interview on Sunday, August 9, Danao City Police Station chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Henrix Bancoleta said the operation followed an intelligence buildup against the suspect, who had been under surveillance for about one week.

The operation resulted in the suspect’s arrest after the buy-bust transaction was completed.

READ: Cebu City buy-bust: Jobless man nabbed with ₱3.74-M shabu

Police recovered 17 sachets containing suspected shabu—one sachet used in the buy-bust transaction and 16 additional heat-sealed sachets containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.

The seized drugs had a combined estimated weight of 104.49 grams, with an estimated Standard Drug Price of ₱710,532.

Authorities also recovered the ₱500 marked buy-bust money, another ₱500 believed to be proceeds from illegal drug activities, and one sling bag.

Bancoleta further said the suspect told police that he had previously been arrested in connection with a firearms case in Mindanao.

READ: Badian buy-bust: Gun, drug toting suspect arrested

Charges prepared

As of Sunday, the suspect remains detained at the Danao City Police Station, while the seized drug evidence had been submitted to the Regional Forensic Unit 7 for laboratory examination.

Bancoleta said police are currently completing the case documents and would file the appropriate drug-related charges against the suspect on Monday, August 10.

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