AROUND P51 million worth of illegal drugs have been seized by members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit in Central Visayas (RPDEU 7) and the Regional Intelligence Unit 7 during an anti-illegal drug operation at N. Bacalso St., Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City early Friday morning, Dec. 13, 2024.
The anti-illegal drug operation also led to the arrest of a drug suspect identified as Jonathan Ungria Pastidio, alias “Jotex,” 54, a former taxi driver, from Avocado St., Barangay Mambaling.
Pastidio yielded packs of suspected shabu, weighing 7,500 grams with a standard drug price of P51 million.
Pastidio denied that he owned the drugs and said he was only asked to deliver them to a buyer.
He said he was new to this and was forced to get involved because he had no job and was struggling to make a living.
During an interview with reporters, he said the illegal drug supply arrived just the other day.
He said he was influenced to engage in this illegal activity by a friend who was also involved in the same trade.
“Since I don’t have a job, if I deliver this. I earn P10,000 per kilogram,” said Pastidio.
The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas is conducting a deeper investigation into the suspect to identify the source of the illegal drugs.
The police said the suspect had been under surveillance after his name came up during interrogations of previously arrested individuals who identified him as their supplier of illegal drugs.
Authorities subjected him to monitoring and validation to verify the information they received.
Pastidio is said to have sold five to 10 kilograms of shabu weekly, distributing it in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, and neighboring towns in Cebu province.
The supply of illegal drugs reportedly came from Luzon, and police are tracking down the owner of the shipment.
The suspect will face charges for violations of Section 5 and Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165. / AYB, WBS