Anti-drug ops jail 15, seize over P16M shabu, cocaine
A SERIES of anti-narcotics operations conducted by the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group last week resulted in the confiscation of over P16 million worth of cocaine, shabu and marijuana as well as the arrest of 15 of their targets, the Journal Group learned Tuesday.
In a report to PNP chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., PNP-DEG director Brigadier Gen. Dionisio B. Bartolome Jr. said they joined the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group in confiscating more than P14 million worth of smuggled cocaine and Kush, a high marijuana derivative at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City last Friday afternoon.
Brig. Gen. Bartolome said the five vacuum-sealed plastic pouches containing 851 grams of Kush worth P1.830 million; a plastic pouch with 456 grams of the same drug valued at P638,400 and 10 black bolts containing around 2.452 kilograms of cocaine worth P12.995 million were placed under the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency headed by Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo.
Another anti-narcotics operation in Albuera, Leyte on Sunday morning led in the arrest of a Regional High-Value Target identified as Noli Rom,43, after he sold drugs to an undercover officer of the PDEG Special Operations Unit 8.
Another HVT in Northern Mindanao identified as Ronel Ragodos,31, was arrested in a sting conducted by PDEA SOU 10 operatives in Cagayan de Oro City which resulted in the seizure of 70 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ worth P476,000 on Sunday.
On the other hand, three ‘high-value individuals’ identified as Nelson Lacsama,42; Francis Haboc,39; and Agusto Lasala,36, were arrested last Monday in a buy-bust in Purok 6, Bgy. Benigno S. Aquino in Bulan, Sorsogon which yielded over P102,000 worth of shabu.
The 6th suspect identified as Gerald dela Peña,46, yielded 51 grams of shabu worth P346,800 and a marked P1,000 bill during a sting in District 6, Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City on the same day.
Two other suspects identified as Christian Lachica,22; and Jemmuel Lucanilao,23, were arrested in a buy-bustin Bacolod City last Friday which led in the recovery of 23 plastic packets containing more than 100 grams of shabu valued at Pnearly P728,000 and the boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill.
