AGENTS of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) have arrested nine crime suspects in a series of anti-narcotics operations in the countryside last week which resulted in the seizure of nearly P11 million worth of shabu and marijuana, a report to PNP chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil said.

PNP-DEG Officer-in-Charge, Colonel Rolando B. Cuya Jr. said four of the suspects yielded more than P800,000 worth of shabu.

One of the suspects, identified as alias Jonas, 53, yielded 15 grams of shabu valued at P102,000 when arrested in Purok Bagong Silang, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

Another suspect, alias Joe, 35, was arrested in a buy-bust in Brgy. San Francisco, Baao, Camarines Sur last Friday.

Recovered from Joe were 15 grams of shabu worth P102,000.

The 3rd target, alias Brad, 40, was arrested in an anti-drug operation in Brgy. Navotas, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro last Friday. The suspect yielded more than P40,000 worth of shabu.

Alias Toto, 27, the 4th target, was arrested in Brgy. San Pedro, Malvar, Batangas.

Recovered during the search were 85 grams of the shabu worth P578,000.

Alias Dandan, 38, was arrested in a sting in Purok 12, Brgy. Irisan, Baguio City last Friday. Recovered from the suspect were nearly 58 grams of shabu valued at P391,000.

The 6th, alias Javier, 49, was arrested on the same day in Brgy. Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna after he sold 100 grams of shabu worth P680,000 to an undercover officer.

The 7th, alias Pinong, 29, yielded over P20,000 worth of shabu during a buy-bust in Brgy. Ugac Norte, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan last Thursday.

The 8th target, alias Buk, was arrested in Bgy. Malinao, Kalilangan, Bukidnon last Wednesday. Confiscated from the suspect were 75 grams of shabu valued at P510,000.

Another high-value individual in Mindanao was arrested in an anti-drug operation in Brgy. East Kili-Kili, Wao Lanao del Sur.

The suspect yielded 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000.

Two others were arrested in Brgy. Galas, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. Recovered from them were 50 grams of shabu valued at P340,000.

Col. Cuya said that last March 27, they also participated in an anti-narcotics operation inside the Fedex Cargo terminal at Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The operation, supervised by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency headed by Director General Isagani R. Nerez, led to the confiscation of P6.6 million worth of Kush.

The 1st operation led to the recovery of 1.098 kilos of the drug valued at P1.657 million.

The 2nd led to the seizure of nearly 3.9 kilos of Kush worth around P5.9 million.

The parcel containing the prohibited drugs was shipped by a certain Waraporn HK Food Asia of Thailand to an alleged resident of Albay.

Last week, combined agents of the PDEA and the PNP also conducted a major anti-narcotics operation in Baguio City which led to the arrest of four of their top targets and the seizure of around 20 kilograms of shabu worth at least P136 million.

Director General Nerez said that the suspects, one of them a policeman, were arrested while conspiring to sell drugs to an undercover officer at the South China Sea Green Valley Subdivision in Brgy. Dontogan, Baguio City.

Recovered during the operation were 20 pieces of plastic bags each containing a kilo of shabu and the buy-bust money topped by a marked bill.

Also seized from the suspects were their mobile phones, a gun and various identification cards.

A vehicle used by the accused to transport the illegal drugs was impounded by the PDEA.

All arrested suspects are facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, said Director General Nerez.

He added that they are coordinating with the PNP their investigation into the background of the suspects, specifically the arrested policeman.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon