LEGAZPI CITY — Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized on Saturday night over a kilo of suspected Shabu or crystal meth worth PHP7.6 million during a drug buy-bust operation in barangay Oro Site here, a ranking PDEA official said today.
PDEA agents in a buy-bust operation in a house collared Ismael Onsad alias Opaw who was in possession of a kilo of suspected shabu worth PHP6.9 million while Angelo Ariraya was caught with 150 grams of Shabu worth PHP750,000, both are residents of Purok (sub-village) 2 in barangay Oro Site here, said Christian Frivaldo, PDEA regional director.
Frivaldo in a phone interview said that the suspects were among the high-value target that the PDEA operative had been casing since October 10.
The PDEA team led by agent Enrique Lucero conducted the buy-bust at the suspects’ residence at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday.
He said the suspects are considered as major drug suppliers operating in Albay.
According to Frivaldo, the suspects are members of drug supply group wherein it was also the subject of a drug buy-bust operation in October where PDEA agents nabbed Amerodin Cadayon alias Oding — also a resident of barangay Oro Site — and seized from him 230 grams of crystal meth with a street value of PHP1.3 million.
Frivaldo said, “our operations are focussed on the supply reduction as we continue to pursue and arrest major drug suppliers.”
“While we are putting more pressure on reducing the drug supply we urge the various local government drug enforcers to take the necessary measure to assist in bringing down the demand for drugs,” Frivaldo said.
The suspects are temporarily under the custody of PDEA detention facilities here while appropriate charges are being prepared.
Meanwhile, in a follow-up operation, joint PDEA agents from Bicol and Region 4-A nabbed three illegal drug suppliers in a buy-bust operation conducted at about 2:30 p.m. Friday at the E. Aguinaldo Highway, Barangay Anabu II, Imus Cavite.
Arrested were Ronald Paredes, 39; Salvador Durana, 24; and Jonathan Lara, 44.
Seized from the suspects were three knot-tied plastic bags containing shabu weighing 300 grams worth PHP1.5 million.
The suspects were pinpointed as the sources of shabu by Marilex Arbuis who was arrested together with her companion Ceasar Galiza in a buy-bust operation last Nov. 23, 2017, at the CBD Bus Terminal in Naga City. (PNA)
