INQUIRER Global Nation

More than P1 million of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia were seized by authorities in two simultaneous raids at a rented room and the home of a woman in Monterazas de Cebu, barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City past 7:30 p.m last Tuesday.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) said more than 100 grams of suspected shabu were taken from the possession of Chueve Lim, 53, and alleged cohort, Grace Alejandrino.

Lim denied owning the shabu, claiming that some unidentified men dropped the drugs at her home.

Alejandrino, who was also arrested on drug charges in the 90s, claimed that she was in charge of Lim’s videoke business in Ormoc City.

The police, however, said that Alejandrino is Lim’s runner.

Senior Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, CIDG-7 chief, said Lim was considered as “shabu queen.” He said Lim is a level two drug pusher who distributes a kilo of drugs per week in barangay Guadalupe and neighboring areas in Cebu City.

Also seized during the raid was P10,000 believed to be proceeds of illegal drug trade.

The joint team were issued search warrants by Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras for Lim's home and a rented room located a few meters near her house.

Police said a small packet of shabu inside Alejandrino's bag was also recovered.

Lim also surrendered three small packets of shabu to the CIDG-7 agents which she kept inside her underwear.

Some small packs were recovered inside her house while some drug paraphernalia were found inside the rented room.

Eleazar said Lim could not post bail at this time because of the quantity of shabu confiscated by operatives.

According to the police, Lim was arrested in a 1999 raid by Cebu City police and was sentenced to eight to 12 years imprisonment by Judge Peras last 2006.

Lim filed an appeal which is still pending at the Court of Appeals.

She was also arrested in 2006 during a raid by the PDEA-7.