Zambales drug den smashed, 7 arrested
A NOTORIOUS drug den in Zambales was smashed by the local police following an anti-narcotics operation in Subic which resulted in the seizure of more than P90,000 worth of shabu and the arrest of seven suspects, the Journal Group learned.
Colonel Romano V. Cardiño, Zambales Police Provincial Office director, said that arrested during the operation in Sitio Matang-eb in Bgy. Cawag, Subic around 3:20 a.m. Thursday were Manuel Catapang alias ‘Batang,’ 36; Ronaldo Soriano, 24; Joselito Ong, 48; Micahel Janawid, 37; Aisa Balani, 24; Nul-amda Jali, 33; and Snira Jalil, 53.
“We have placed that area in Subic under close monitoring following persistent reports that it is being used as a drug dive where shabu can be bought and even used,” the official said.
Cardiño told Brigadier General Valeriano T. de Leon, Police Regional Office 3 director, that during the operation, an undercover officer managed to buy shabu from Catapang, a “watch-listed drug personality,” outside his residence.
Seized from the possession of the suspect were one heat-sealed plastic sachet containing the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” and the marked P500 bill paid to him by the poseur.
The official said the Subic policemen led by Major San Juan Felmar Aquino and Lieutenants Noel Villaluan and Randy Pascasio then raided the suspect’s house-cum-drug dive and arrested the five other suspects who were caught in the act of engaging in a drug sniffing session.
Seized during the anti-narcotics operation were a total of nine plastic sachets containing shabu, the marked bill and several drug paraphernalia including a disposable lighter with burner, unused aluminum foil strips, three aluminum foil strips with traces of shabu and empty plastic sachets being used to repack the drug.
Cardiño said the confiscated drugs weighed 13.9 grams valued at P90,350.
Now locked up at the Subic police jail, all suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, he added.
