A DRUG den located in Barangay Calulut, City of San Fernando was dismantled by operatives of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Central Luzon during a drug bust recently.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of five drug personalities, including the operator of the drug den identified as Jerome Santiago, alias Gorio, 36.

The four more suspects, who were inside the illegal facility during the operation, were identified as Sarah Santiago, 34; Carlo Galang, 32; Ronron Yumol, 23; and Leonel Galang, 55, all are residents of the city.

According PDEA Regional Director Christian Frivaldo, Gorio had been operating the drug den since March 2020 but ceased its operation during the government's enhance community quarantine (ECQ) last March 16, 2020.

"We have received reports that the subject drug den has been operating again and that prompted us to carry out the operation," Frivaldo said.

Confiscated from the suspects were 30 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), about a gram of marijuana with an estimated street value of P209,000, and the marked money used in the operation.

The suspects are now detained at PDEA Jail Facility in Diosdado Macapagal Government Center, Barangay Maimpis, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

Violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is being readied for filing in court.