Eight people are arrested and 12 grams of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) valued at P86,000 are seized as police and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raid a suspected drug den in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro on Thursday night, May 4, 2023. (Photo courtesy of PDEA Davao de Oro)
TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte — Nine people have been arrested and more than P92,000 worth of illegal drugs have been seized by police and anti-narcotics agents in separate operations in this city and in Nabunturan town, Davao de Oro province, police said Saturday.
Operatives of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Davao de Oro swooped down a house owned by 25-year-old Neseljohn Pabilona alias Jan-jan, located at Purok 2, Barangay Poblacion, Nabunturan, around 7:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 4. The house was allegedly being used as a drug den.
A PDEA agent acting as poseur-buyer was able to buy a sachet of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) weighing a gram with an estimated value of P12,000 from Pabilona, a police report said.
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During a search, an additional 11 grams of the alleged illegal drug contained in two packs valued at P74,000 as well as several pieces of drug paraphernalia were found at the house, it added.
Pabilona, his live-in partner identified as Zekia Carcueva, as well as six others who were alleged visitors of the supposed drug den, were subsequently placed under the custody of authorities.
Earlier in the day, a 37-year old man was also arrested for possessing suspected illegal drugs in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
Acting Tagum City police chief Lt. Col. Jeffrey Latayada identified the suspect as a certain Jaer, a resident of Purok Maharlika of Barangay Cuambogan.
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The suspect was apprehended following the serving of a search warrant issued by a local court past 9:20 a.m. also on Thursday.
Confiscated from Jaer were two packs of suspected shabu placed inside a plastic pack and weighing 0.98 grams. The illegal drug has a value of P 6,664, according to police.
Jaer’s arrest came as Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy had recently warned that illegal drug trade is making a comeback in this city.
At least 13 of Tagum City’s 23 barangays are affected by illegal drugs, a report released by the Davao del Norte police office last week revealed.
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