AUTHORITIES arrested what they called a local “drug lord” in a drug bust Wednesday afternoon, June 28, in NHA, Kauswagan village, Cagayan de Oro City.
The suspect, Raul Tapere, 35, of Barangay 33, allegedly yielded P1 million worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride locally known as “shabu” when police pounced on him.
Tapere works as a blacksmith in Cogon market area.
The raiding team led by the City Drug Enforcement Unit of Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (CDEU-Cocpo) confiscated from him 26 sachets of shabu in different sizes, weighing about 60.45 grams and valued around P800,000.
"Estimate lang ni namo nga value kay posible mosobra pa gayud ni kay nimahal karon ang shabu basi sa among monitoring, (This is only an estimated value since it is possible that the price of shabu is higher from our monitoring)" Senior Police Office 2 (SPO2) Jigger Rojo, CDEU investigator, said.
Rojo said they considered the suspect as drug lord considering the volume of prohibited drugs seized from him.
CDEU investigator said they have long been monitoring the activities of the suspect who cleverly evaded the authorities.
"Clever man kaayo ni nga suspect, igo ra moli-li sa ilang balay unya molakaw na dayon ug ang transaction sa bisan aha nga lugar. Daghan na ga-attempt mag operate ani niya pero idlas kaayo," he said.
Police said the suspect has a number of men under him who are running the drug trade in the city and he may have also been supplying drugs in the nearby towns of Misamis Oriental.
Rojo said the suspect refused to name the people supplying him the items and only disclosed a 14-year-old minor as his alleged “runner” of the illegal drugs.
Authorities believed the shabu supply may have been coming from the Lanao area or Iligan city.
Rojo added the suspect revealed some names whom the Cocpo's anti-drug unit are now following.
"Naa siya gipang-mention nga among gihinay-hinay karon pag-develop," Rojo said.
The suspect will face charges on violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165).
