PDEA jails 6 HVTs; P5M shabu, MJ seized
PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chair Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo on Monday announced the arrest of six “high-value targets” (HVTs) in the country following three separate anti-narcotics operations, which led to the seizure of nearly P5 million worth of shabu and marijuana over the weekend.
Two of the suspects, identified with the alias “Jimmy,” 26; and “Rhadin,” 29, a fish vendor, were arrested for conspiring to sell some 500 grams of the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” (shabu) valued at P3.4 million to an undercover officer of the PDEA National Capital Region (PDEA-NCR) at the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in Barangay 666 in Manila past 3 p.m. Saturday, the official said.
Members of the PDEA Regional Office IV-A Special Enforcement Team were also involved in the sting, which likewise led to the recovery of the buy-bust money. The duo were found to be residents of Baseco, Port Area, Manila.
The two other suspects, both residents of Calauag, Quezon, were arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in Barangay Caranglaan in Dagupan City in Pangasinan around 2 p.m. Sunday.
Confiscated from the two were two plastic sachets of 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000 and the marked money paid to them by an undercover agent from the PDEA Pangasinan Provincial Office.
Other operatives from the PDEA La Union Provincial Office and Seaport Interdiction Unit 2 as well as the Dagupan City Police Station, also participated in the successful operation.
The 5th and 6th suspects, both farmers-turned “high-value individuals” (HVIs) for illegal drugs, were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Bgy. D’ Leaño in Claveria, Cagayan 9:50 a.m. Sunday.
Members of the PDEA Regional Office 2 recovered a plastic bag containing some 60 grams of shabu worth P408,000 and around six kilograms of dried marijuana leaves valued at P720,000 from the possession of the two suspects.
Also recovered from the duo were the buy-bust money, two mobile phones, assorted documents, and identification cards. The tricycle they used in transporting the drugs was impounded.
All six are now facing non-bailable charges for the sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, said the PDEA leadership.
