In a significant blow to the narcotics trade in Central Visayas, agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confiscated eight kilograms of shabu valued at a staggering P54.4 million during a late-night operation in Cebu. The buy-bust led to the arrest of four individuals, including a suspected high-level national distributor.
Major Drug Operation Nets Key Target
The operation unfolded at 11:25 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in Sitio Suba, Barangay Tuyan, City of Naga. PDEA 7 Director Joel Plaza identified the primary target as a 47-year-old driver known by the alias Clifford, a resident of South Poblacion, Naga City. Authorities classified him as a big-time drug distributor operating at a national level.
Three companions were also taken into custody during the sting:
- Alias Maricel, 39, from Barangay Tuyan, Naga City.
- Alias Joseph, 52, a driver from Barangay Looc, Mandaue City.
- Alias Barbara, 29, an online seller from Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City.
The successful operation was a joint effort involving personnel from the PDEA 7 Cebu Provincial Office, the PDEA 7 Intelligence Section, the Naga City Police Station, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO), Naval Forces Central, and the Coast Guard District Office.
Evidence Points to Large-Scale Distribution Network
Seized items from the suspects included the eight large packs of shabu marked with Chinese characters, seven mobile phones, buy-bust money, and several ATM cards. All evidence is now under the custody of the PDEA Regional Laboratory Office for thorough chemical analysis.
PDEA 7 information officer Leia Alcantara revealed that Clifford had been under surveillance since April 2025. Intelligence suggested he was capable of moving up to five kilograms of shabu weekly. His alleged distribution network spanned Negros Oriental, the entire Central Visayas region, and parts of Mindanao.
PDEA 7 Acting Assistant Director Thessa Tiuzen confirmed that Clifford sourced his illegal supply from both Metro Manila and Mindanao, labeling him a "national wholesaler." His name had emerged as a major supplier for Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental.
Echoing this assessment, CPPO Provincial Director Police Colonel Abubakar Mangelen Jr. stated that Clifford was considered a "national-level drug personality" who acted as the boss of an organized, independent drug group operating in the province.
Official Response and Ongoing Challenge
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, who personally visited the PDEA 7 office following the bust, expressed alarm at the volume of drugs intercepted. She emphasized the severe impact of narcotics on the youth and issued a stern warning to traffickers: "We know who you are. It will just be a matter of time. There will be a day of reckoning for you."
Both police and PDEA officials acknowledged the persistent challenge of curbing the drug trade in Central Visayas, citing Cebu's numerous ports as vulnerable entry points. However, Mangelen and Governor Baricuatro affirmed that the newly established Inter-Agency Task Force is committed to collaborative efforts to block the flow of illegal drugs into the province.
Follow-up investigations are ongoing to trace Clifford's broader connections. The four suspects are now detained at PDEA 7 and face charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
