Gov’t worker, 2 others nabbed as drug den dismantled in Mati City

Police and anti-narcotics agents arrest three suspects in an operation Wednesday night against a suspected drug den operator in Mati City, Davao Oriental. (Photo courtesy of PDEA Davao Oriental)

DAVAO CITY — Three persons, including a government employee of Davao Oriental, were arrested in an anti-drug operation on Wednesday night in Mati City, authorities said on Thursday, May 11.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Davao Oriental identified the suspects as Eric Belsondra, 38, of Sitio Nasa, Barangay Dahican; Eric Lanaban, and Ronald Besoro.

The joint operation with the Mati police was conducted around 9 p.m. against Belsondra in a suspected drug den at Purok Tate, Martinez Subdivision, Dahican, PDEA Davao Oriental said in a report.

A confidential agent bought from Belsondra a sachet of suspected shabu (crystal meth) for P1,000, leading to his arrest.

Also apprehended were Lanaban, a job order employee of the Davao Oriental provincial capitol, as well as Besoro, who were caught sniffing suspected shabu at the scene.

Recovered at the scene were a medium-sized heat-sealed plastic sachet with suspected shabu weighing about six grams worth P40,800, assorted drug-use paraphernalia, and the marked money used in the operation.

Cases of violating the anti-drug law were filed against the suspects.

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