A SERIES of anti-illegal drug operations led to the dismantling of an alleged drug den and the arrest of 14 other individuals in Eastern Visayas towns from October 21 to 23, 2021.
Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Leyte Police Provincial Police, and Isabel Municipal Police Station dismantled the drug den in Sitio Tulay, Barangay Marvel of the said town Friday evening, October 22.
The operation resulted in the arrests of alleged drug den maintainer Mark Meramonte, co-maintainer Jeel Meramonte, and visitors, namely Giemel Ebatados, Jhon Paul Almadin, Bernard Toreja, Mary Jane Espinoza, Jessa Mae Meramonte, Johnly Sarabia, Pidencio Espinoza, and two other minors.
Confiscated during the operation were six sachets believed to be containing shabu weighing 12.0624 grams and with an estimated market value of P82,000, buy-bust money, and various drug paraphernalia.
On the same day, PDEA and police operatives collared Ahl Jones Sepe, an alleged drug personality in Barangay Tolingon, Isabel.
The authorities confiscated four sachets of suspected shabu weighing .3409 gram and with an estimated market value of P2,300, the anti-narcotics agency said in the report.
In Tacloban City, joint operatives apprehended Gabriel Ponti Maraya on Saturday evening, October 23.
Personnel of Tacloban Police Station 2 confiscated during the operation one sachet containing suspected shabu, as subject of sale; four other sachets of suspected shabu, as subject of possession; P500 buy-bust money with serial number NB402093; and a mountain bike, along with other personal items.
The recovered drug items had an estimated street value of P4,500 and an estimated weight of more or less .75 grams.
In Maasin City, Southern Leyte, authorities busted a 25-year-old delivery man for alleged illegal drug activities on October 21.
The suspect was identified as Rex Paulo Loayon, a street-level individual.
Purchased from Loayon were seven sachets believed to be containing suspected shabu in consideration of P7,000, while confiscated from his possession and control were buy-bust money with serial number GP095216, one heat-sealed transparent cellophane of suspected dried marijuana leaves, mobile phone, motorcycle, and P15,940 cash.
The suspects will be facing charges for violation of sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (SunStar Philippines)