Manila drug den smashed, 7 nabbed
COMBINED agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Manila Police District (MPD) on Wednesday afternoon smashed a notorious drug den in Paco district following an anti-narcotics operation which resulted in the arrest of seven persons and the seizure of more than P200,000 worth of shabu, PDEA chair Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva said.
Arrested during the conduct of a buy-bust operation and a raid at the drug dive in Paz Street, Bgy. 684 in Paco were suspected den maintainer Manolito Reyes alias “Bakal,” 41; Narissa Reyes, 31; Ramon Ferrer Jr., 40; Hesus Reyes, 35; Mario Reyes, 34; Eduardo Almiral, 50; and Romeo de la Cruz, 32.
Villanueva said that Manolito Reyes is a watch-listed drug personality who was monitored to be operating the drug den in his house at no. 1697 Paz St.
The other Reyeses were all his relatives while the others are visitors of the raided drug dive who are employed either as construction workers or tricycle drivers.
Villanueva said that Manolito was arrested shortly after he sold drugs to an undercover officer. Recovered from the suspect’s possession were around 20 grams of the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” worth P136,000 and the marked money paid to him by an undercover officer.
The officials added that a search of the suspect’s dive led in the recovery of some 10 grams of shabu worth P68,000 and assorted drug sniffing paraphernalia.
Members of the PDEA National Capital Region Office, the MPD Station 5 under Brigadier Gen. Leo M. Francisco and the Manila City Hall Special Mayor’s Reaction Team under Lieutenant Colonel Rizalino Ibay Jr. conducted the successful anti-drug operation around 2 p.m. Wednesday, said Villanueva.
All suspects are now being held at the PDEA lock-up facility in Quezon City.
Manolito will be facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 while the others will be charged for visiting a drug dive and illegal possession of drugs.
