The newly-formed Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) on Friday night made its first arrest against a drug dealer who allegedly supplied shabu to peddlers in Tagbilaran City and neighboring towns.

Mel Corona, the anti-drug operation’s target, was collared in Barangay Tiptip in Tagbilaran City along with his alleged cohort in the drug trade Ailyn Olaso, 31, who was later found out by authorities to be wanted for a drug charge, said Captain Romar Labasbas, supervisor of the DEU in the first district.

Corona was placed under surveillance by police after previously arrested drug dealers pinpointed him as their drug source.

“Siya g’yud ang gitudlo na gikan sa iyaha ang drugs na padung didto sa mga municipalities na dunay una nang nadakpan. Mga lungsod na adjacent sa Tagbilaran,” said Labasbas who is also the police chief of Dimiao.

Police later found out there is a standing arrest warrant issued against Olaso for a drug possession charge.

In a report, police said that both suspects were caught in possession of shabu weighing 1.5 grams during the drug buy-bust operation which was carried out by the first district DEU, the Maritime Police and the Tagbilaran City Police Station.  

The seized drugs meanwhile were estimated to be worth P10,200 based on the value set by the Dangerous Drugs Board.

According to Labasbas, the provincial DEU was formed through a directive issued by Colonel Jonathan Cabal in August and took effect earlier this month.

The DEU which is divided into three teams, one each per congressional district, was formed to support the Provincial Intelligence Branch and the various police stations in their respective areas of responsibility.

“Under siya sa PIB mura’g additional siya na gihimo ni sir Cabal para additional forces or tabang sa tanang stations,” he said, adding that each of the 48 police stations in the province have representatives enlisted by the DEU. (WM)