Police in the wee hours of Tuesday seized P340,000 worth of shabu allegedly from two maritime school students during an anti-drug operation in Tagbilaran City.

Intelligence officers of the Tagbilaran police allegedly seized the contraband which weighed an estimated 50 grams from Ramel Tamsi, 26, and Bernard Mehogne, 27, both maritime students of PMI Colleges in Tagbilaran City during a buy-bust operation outside their apartment across the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) in Barangay Poblacion II, police said.

Tamsi, who was the sting operation’s target, and Mehigne are graduating and second year college students, respectively.

Both men were elevated as high-value targets in the police’s drug watch list due to the large amount of suspected shabu found in their possession.

In a report, police said that they spotted Tamsi as he sold shabu near the GCGMH at past 12 midnight prompting them to set up the operation, which was the first under the leadership of new Tagbilaran City Police Station chief Lt. Col. Oscar Boyles.

Tamsi transacted with an undercover cop while Mehogne handed over the suspected shabu leading to their immediate arrest.

According to authorities, they placed Tamsi under surveillance after receiving information from a police asset indicating that he was a known drug source in the city.

However, Tamsi and Mehogne denied allegations that they were selling illegal drugs as they only admitted to drug use.

Police said that they have also refused to divulge the identity of their drug source.

Both men who will be facing charges for sale and possession of illegal drugs were placed under the custody of the Tagbilaran City Police Station. (WM)