The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Visayas opened up 2023 with raids on two suspected drug dens in Cebu City and arrested eight suspects.
Leia Alviar Alcantara, PDEA-7 public affairs chief, said their operatives swooped down on a house in Barangay Duljo-Fatima on Sunday and arrested a 68-year-old alleged maintainer identified as Bebie Alya alias Nanay, along with two other suspects as Arnulfo Laresma, 56, and Joy Labaya, 41.
The agents seized from the suspects 19 packs of suspected shabu weighing around 12 grams valued at P81,900, buy-bust money, and cash amounting to P490 believed to be proceeds from illegal transaction.
On Jan. 6, PDEA-7 agents also struck at another suspected drug den in Barangay Mambaling and arrested the suspected maintainer identified as Rogelio Camilo Jr. alias “Butchoy”, 46, along with four other suspects identified as Christ Jay Abellanosa, 27; Juvelyn Tabalin, 30; Pacito Jorge Campos, 36, a construction worker; and Ramon Tabalin, 55.
The operatives confiscated during the operation seven packs of suspected shabu weighing around 10 grams with an estimated street value of P68,000, the money used in the buy-bust, P240 cash and sniffing paraphernalia.
“Dismantling of drug dens is considered a high-impact operation as drug dens are breeding ground for violence and criminality and disrupt peace and order in the community,” Alcantara said.
Alcantara said that in 2022, the agency, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies including the Philippine National Police, conducted 99 anti-drug sting operations, leading to the arrest of 281 drug personalities who are facing charges in court.
