Mandaue City cops nab Central Visayas ‘HVT’
A SUSPECTED ‘high-value drug target’ in Central Visayas was arrested by anti-narcotics agents in Mandaue City during a buy-bust operation early Sunday morning which led to the seizure of around 500 grams of shabu worth P3.4 million, the Journal Group learned.
Suspect Deive Lonie Portillo alias ‘Dondon,’ a 27-year-old resident of LPC Coconut 1 in Barangay Umapad in Mandaue City is now facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, said Mandaue City Police Office director, Colonel Jeffrey T. Caballes.
According to the official, the suspect yielded a half-a -kilo of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ in an entrapment operation conducted by undercover officers from the Mandaue City Drug Enforcement Unit led by Lieutenant Col. Verniño Noserale in Purok 11 in Bgy. Bakilid 1:05 a.m. Sunday.
In coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 7 (PDEA-7) office, a Mandaue City DEU team headed by Lt. Troy John Lalamunan effected the arrest of the suspect shortly after he allegedly handed the drugs to the poseur and took the P75,000 buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill.
The pieces of drug evidence were inventoried in the presence of required witnesses and the suspect.
Caballes said the suspect is now being held in their office and facing the non-bailable charges for violation of RA 9165.
The successful sting in Mandaue City came in the aftermath of an order from Police Regional Office 7 director, Brigadier General Jerry F. Bearis for all Central Visayas police operating units to further intensify their campaign against illegal drug trafficking and abuse, particularly in going after big-time targets.
