MEMBERS of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) on Tuesday captured one of Cavite most wanted drug trafficking suspects during a manhunt operation in Noveleta, said PNP-DEG director, Brigadier General Remus B. Medina.

The arrested suspect was identified as Jeffry Casupanan, a 32-year old resident of Barangay San Rafael IV in Noveleta wanted for violation of Section 5 or sale of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 with no bail recommended by Judge Ethel Andico-Malabanan of the Cavite City Regional Trial Court Branch 16 last July 15.

Brig. Gen. Medina said members of the DEG Special Operations Unit 4-A, with the assistance of the Cavite Police Provincial Office arrested the suspect following days of surveillance.

The arrest of the elusive drug dealer came in the wake of 14 separate anti-narcotics operations conducted by agents of the PNP-DEG from August 8 to 14 which resulted in the arrest of 14 known drug traffickers and the seizure of more than P7 million worth of shabu and the designer drug called Ecstasy, Medina told the Journal Group.

In a report to PNP chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, the PNP-DEG director said confiscates were nearly 608 grams of shabu and 1,783 Ecstasy tablets.

The official also reported the arrest of a ‘high-value target’ in Western Visayas during a manhunt operation in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental on Monday.

The suspect identified as Aron Natuel,36, a resident of Purok Nami-Nami in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City was arrested on the strength of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for violation of RA 9165 issued by Judge Raymond Joseph Javier of the Bacolod City RTC Branch 52.

On Wednesday last week, PNP-DEG operatives arrested Analyn de la Cruz, a resident of 415 Barangay Miape Longos, Zapote 5 in Bacoor City, Cavite during a sting which resulted in the recovery of more than P700,000 worth of shabu.

The woman’s partner identified as Ricky Castillo alias ‘Lace,’38, managed to escape and is still being hunted as of press time.

Brig. Gen. Medina said undercover officers from the PNP-DEG Special Operations Unit 4-A arrested the suspect 1 p.m. Wednesday. Recovered from her possession were an estimated 105 grams of shabu valued at P714,000.

On Thursday, the PNP-DEG joined the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) headed by Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva in conducting a controlled delivery operation in Baguio City which led to the arrest of a 59-year old woman after she claimed a parcel containing over P3 million worth of Ecstasy.

The suspect, Elise Millare, was placed under arrest after she tried to claim the drugs in front of the Bristle Ridge Residences on Ambuclao Road in Barangay Gibraltar, 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

The parcel contained 1,783 pieces of Ecstasy tablets valued at P3,031,100. It also contained assorted bedsheets and shoes and was shipped by a certain Fostina Abobo of Rommerstrasse 40 41462 Neuss, Germany.

It was consigned to one Joyce San Antonio of Room 101, Bristle Ridge Residences.

It was the latest successful controlled delivery operation undertaken by the PDEA and the PNP under General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar in line with their ongoing war on drugs.

Controlled delivery is a technique used when a consignment of illicit drugs is detected and allowed to go forward under the control and surveillance of law enforcement officers in order to secure evidence against the organizers of such illicit drug traffic.

The arrested suspects are now facing non-bailable charges for violation of RA 9165, Medina said.