Authorities in Cebu City have apprehended a recently freed convict during a buy-bust operation, seizing a substantial quantity of suspected shabu valued at millions of pesos.
Major Drug Operation in Lorega
The City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of the Cebu City Police Office conducted the successful operation at Sityo Kamansi, Barangay Lorega on Monday night, November 17, 2025, at approximately 10:30 PM.
Identified as Josephus Samson Salamanca, alias Epot, the 39-year-old suspect resides in the same area where the arrest took place. Operatives recovered packaged substances believed to be shabu weighing approximately 500 grams with an estimated standard drug price of P3.4 million.
Rapid Return to Criminal Activity
Records indicate that Salamanca had only been released from the Cebu City Jail on September 30, 2025, after serving time for previous illegal drug charges. Shockingly, instead of reforming, he immediately returned to his former trade.
According to police intelligence, the suspect dramatically escalated his operations following his release. Starting with just 50 grams of supply, he rapidly expanded to distributing 500 grams per week - a tenfold increase in his illegal business.
Police Surveillance Leads to Arrest
Law enforcement officials had been monitoring Salamanca's activities for two weeks before moving in for the arrest. The intelligence gathering culminated in the successful buy-bust operation that put the suspect back behind bars.
Investigations revealed that Salamanca's drug distribution network covered Barangay Lorega in Cebu City and Minglanilla City. His alleged source of supply came from an inmate at the Abuyog Penal Farm in Leyte, indicating connections within the prison system.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in preventing recidivism among drug offenders and the sophisticated networks that continue to operate despite law enforcement efforts.
