OPERATIVES of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested two alleged drug dealers who yielded P16 kilos of shabu worth P108.8 million in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur yesterday morning.
The suspects were identified by their aliases as Pao-pao and Om, both males, who are facing charges of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, specifically for selling and possession of illegal drugs.
They were arrested after selling two kilos of shabu to a poseur buyer at 6:40 a.m. in Purok I, Barangay Sta. Irene in Bayugan City.
Authorities found an additional 14 kilos in the possession of the suspects during a search.
Also seized from them were five digital weighing scales, a glass pipe, assorted packing materials, the buy-bust money and communication devices allegedly used in illegal activities.
PDEA said the successful operation was the product of a “coordinated effort” with the Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte police provincial offices and the Bayugan City police station.
PDEA-Caraga said the drug haul was one of the largest seized in the history of the Caraga region.
“This operation underscores the importance of multi-agency collaboration and community involvement in achieving impactful results in the campaign against illegal drugs,” said PDEA Caraga chief Levi Ortiz.
“Our combined efforts reflect our shared commitment to protecting the community and ensuring a safer future for all,” added Ortiz.
PDEA Caraga called on local government units and other stakeholders to “strengthen their partnership in the relentless fight against illegal drugs.”
It also encouraged the public to “remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to authorities”, noting that such cooperation is crucial in the fight against illegal drugs.
Police seized P129,200 worth of suspected dangerous drugs and a firearm and arrested a construction worker in Pasig City Sunday night.
Col. Hendrix Mangaldan, local police chief, identified the suspect as alias Ontong, 38, a resident of Barangay Manggahan, Pasig City.
Recovered from him were several sachets containing more or less 19 grams of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia and a .38 revolver with one bullet. – With Christian Oineza