Brigadier General Roderick Augustus B. Alba
PRO7 agents nab top drug target in CV, seize P34M shabu
NEW Police Regional Office 7 (PRO7) director, Brigadier General Roderick Augustus B. Alba on Sunday ordered a thorough investigation into the source of the P42 million worth of shabu seized by his men from a top female drug target in Central Visayas.
The official instructed the PRO7 Regional Intelligence Division to closely coordinate with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for any reports regarding drug smuggling in the region.
He also asked his operations chief to prepare a plan to beef up the local regional maritime unit and the BoC to ensure the apprehension of smugglers including those using the region’s long coastlines and piers to sneak in prohibited drugs.
In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the former PNP Public Information Office chief said his men are now tracing the roots of the drug supply and the extent of connection of the suspect identified as 42-year old Rosell Arda.
Alba said Arda, a priority Top 10 High-Value Individual in Region 7 yielded five kilograms of shabu during a buy-bust operation near Gate 3 MEPZ in Barangay Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City around 3:25 p.m. Friday.
Confiscated from the suspect were five tea bags with Chinese ‘Guanyinwang’ tea labels and the P1 million worth of boodle money topped by 10 marked P500 bills.
“The huge amount of confiscated illegal drug is a red flag that the suspect may be part of a wide network of drug operation. This must not end here. The probers are now conducting a follow-up investigation to determine the next step of action,” said the PRO7 director.
Alba said the jobless resident of Purok Kalubihan in Bgy. Poblacion, Occidental, Consolacion, Cebu was arrested during the sting conducted by officers from the Lapu-Lapu City Police Criminal Investigation Unit and Drug Enforcement Unit led by Lieutenant Brigido Paca II and Lt. Colonel Jul Mohammad Jamiri.
Officers from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) also assisted in the conduct of the successful operation, said Lapu-Lapu City Police Office officer-in-charge, Col. Elmer Lim.
The suspect is facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, said Alba
