BUSTED. An operative of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) accounts for the pieces of evidence gathered from a buy-bust at Lasip Grande Dagupan City on Nov. 26, 2020. The PDEA, together with the police, arrested five persons and dismantled a drug den in the operation. (Photo courtesy of Alexander James Navarro of Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan)
DAGUPAN CITY – Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), reinforced by the Philippine National Police (PNP), have arrested five persons and dismantled a drug den in a buy-bust at Barangay Lasip Grande here.
In an interview on Friday, Retchie Camacho, PDEA-Pangasinan assistant provincial officer and operation team leader, identified the suspects as Alejandro Paragas, Rollie Melendez, Normito Javier, Rodelio Maniacop, and Joel Inocentes, all residents of the place.
He said Paragas, who was the target of the operation on Thursday, also turned out to be the drug den maintainer.
A poseur-buyer bought a heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu worth PHP2,000.
Operatives also arrested the other suspects who were in the middle of a ‘shabu’ session inside the den.
Camacho said the operation resulted in the discovery and confiscation of three more sachets of suspected shabu with a total weight of 11 grams. The suspected shabu valued at PHP74, 800.
Other drug paraphernalia, cellphone, identification card, and cash in different denominations have also been recovered.
Authorities consider this as a high-impact operation after the discovery and dismantling of a drug den in the city.
As of posting, the suspects are to be brought to the PDEA Regional Office in San Fernando City La Union for further examination, and filing of charges for violation of Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, and 15 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
