Amid the relentless bloody campaign against illegal drugs, police pounced on eight suspected drug users and a drug peddler during a buy-bust operation on Tuesday evening, July 19, 2016.

Joseph Norris Loyota alias “Brox”, 32, single and a resident of Barangay Laya, Baclayon was arrested by police anti-drugs task group after he handed out a heat-sealed transparent cellophane sachet to police poseur-buyer PO1 Marjun Autentico in exchange for P300.

A Samsung Duos cellphone with messages relating to drug transactions was found in the possesion of Loyota.

The buy-bust operation chanced upon eight other persons, seven males and one female, caught in the act of using suspected shabu inside a room in the Caballo boarding house along Maria Clara St.,Tagbilaran City.

Police Superintendent Nicomedes Olaivar who led a team from the Provincial Public Safety Company, Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group identified the alleged drug users as Mea Madelle Jala, 29, Carnava St. Tamblot; Rex Lim Echeverria 28, J.A. Clarin; Zakary Tubo, 18; Maria Clara St.; Anthony Estoque, 30 Lanao Dao District; Ronald Talictic, 33, Tamblot St. in Tagbilaran City.

Also arrested were Jhon Paul Palma, 33, West Poblacion, Alburquerque and Dennis Ones, 28, Barangay Songculan, Dauis.

Alleged drug pusher Loyota was also caught in possession of the marked buy-bust money, seven cellophane sachets of suspected shabu, three pieces improvised tooters with shabu residues, five pieces tinfoils and six pieces disposable lighters.

Total weight of the confiscated shabu was estimated at 3 grams with a street value of P5,000.00.

The suspects are presently detained at the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) awaiting the filing of criminal charges for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (Chito Visarra and Rey Tutas)