Policemen have shattered a distribution network that supplies regulated drugs in Central Visayas with the arrest of a key player and seizure of a large stockpile of opioid analgesics.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Debold Sinas said 21,600 ampules of Nubain tablets were confiscated on Tuesday in a busy-bust operation by operatives of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) along Sangi Road, Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Citing reports from PNP-DEG Director, Police Brigadier General Ronald Lee, Sinas said the seized contraband is valued at P5.4 million.
According to Lee, the drugs were imported from Pakistan and was forwarded to Cebu via a local forwarding company.
The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), has included Nalbuphine hydrochloride (Nubain) among the list of dangerous drugs because of the danger posed by those who may abuse its use.
The DDB also noted that there has also been numerous reports of abuse of Nalbuphine hydrochloride in many major cities in the country, and has been found to be the fifth most commonly encountered drug of abuse by victims seeking treatment and rehabilitation in various rehabilitation centers.
PNP-DEG agents arrested Discoro Salimbot, 33, cargo representative at FCS Cargo Services and a resident of Barangay Badian, Purok 2, Cebu for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PNP-DEG records showed that Salimbot was recruited in 2017 by a certain Madelyn Baldovino and is responsible for the remittance of the proceeds from the sale of the items to Baldovino.