BY CALVIN CORDOVA
CEBU CITY — Packs of suspected shabu worth P6.8 million were recovered from two women during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, Thursday night.
Kris Yamas Orlanda, 34, and Elsie Caranzo Danlag, 26, were arrested at former’s condominium unit. Their alleged cohort, Psyche Gonzales Hortelano, was able to escape.
“We really wanted to get Gonzales because she was the one who had a direct contact to their boss. We could have gotten more information if we were able to arrest her,” said Police Maj. Vernino Noserale, chief of the Consolacion Police Station.
Noserale said it took three months of constant monitoring before they were able to corner the suspects.
Noserale said it was their sixth attempt to arrest the two women, who were suspected to be members of a big-time illegal drug group.
“The first five attempts did not materialize because they would suddenly cancel the transaction. Probably, they had a hard time moving their contraband because of the strict security enforced due to community quarantine,” said Noserale.
Noserale added that the suspects would not easily transact with anyone.
“They won’t transact small amounts of shabu. At least 200 grams of shabu are involved in every transaction,” said Noserale, who added that five grams of shabu would usual cost P7,000 to P10,000.
Kris admitted that she was arrested for illegal drug charges in 2016 but the case against her was dismissed.
“She admitted that she was into illegal drugs since 2015 and for this year alone, she was able to sell six kilos of shabu already,” said Noserale.
Noserale said it was unusual that police were able to run into a group of female drug suspects.
“It could be that drug syndicates are employing women because suspicions on a woman peddling illegal drugs is lesser,” said Noserale.(Calvin D. Cordova)
