Cebu City police arrested a mother and son at Pier 5 on Thursday, January 23, after allegedly being caught with 25 kilograms of shabu valued at P170 million, Inquirer.net reported.
Authorities from the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO 7) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) tracked the suspects after receiving a tip late Wednesday evening about a vehicle transporting illegal drugs from Masbate to Cebu City.
According to PRO 7 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, the suspects attempted to evade a K9 inspection at Masbate port before boarding a ship to Cebu. Upon arrival, they were apprehended at around 7 a.m. on Thursday, with the illegal drugs found in a garbage bag inside a brown box.
The suspects were identified as 41-year-old Edward Roche Loga of Isabel, Leyte, and his mother, 63-year-old Edna Roche Loga of Ermita, Cebu City. Initial investigations revealed that Edward had been instructed to transport the vehicle carrying the drugs and was allegedly unaware of its contents. He claimed he was promised P20,000 for delivering the cargo.
Police suspect the pair may be linked to a larger criminal syndicate capable of handling such a significant volume of illegal drugs.
The suspects are now in PRO 7 custody, and complaints for violating Republic Act No. 9165, or the Dangerous Drugs Act, are being prepared against them. Authorities noted that intercepting such a large shipment could have a substantial impact on reducing the drug supply in the region.
