Nation

Drug den operator, 22 others fall in CDO bust

Dennis Carcamo - The Philippine Star

April 30, 2014 | 2:01pm

MANILA, Philippines -Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency nabbed a suspected drug den operator and 22 users during a buy bust operation in Cagayan de Oro City, the PDEA said Wednesday.

PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. said that last April 26, around 11:40 a.m., elements of the PDEA Regional Office 10 conducted a buy-bust operation in Abdul Nasserâ€™s residence doubling as a drug den, located at Sto. NiÃ±o St., Brgy. 31, Cagayan de Oro City.

During the anti-drug operation, arrested suspects were identified as Abdul Nasser, 47, a drug den owner; Abdullah Mama, 43; Jalil Datu, 23; Habol Mama, 30; Mohammad Isah Usman, 20, farmer; Kenneth Go, 22; Alo Rataban, 27; Mylene Maloro, 21; Ansari Ayunan, 38; Kiram Arumpac, 31; Von Carlo Briones, 18, laborer. All are residents of Sto. NiÃ±o, Brgy. 31, Cagayan de Oro City.

Also nabbed were Zalay Dimaawil, 39, vendor; Mark Jason Escobido, 28, street vendor; Rovelyn Neri Dia, 25; Dexter Bernaldes, 34, carpenter; Eleazor Awitin, 28, purchaser; Christopher Calungsod, 38, jeepney dispatcher; Lea Diego, 45; Gerry Nalagon, 36, laborer; Riba Diego, 33, housewife; and John Billy Taboylog, 24. All are high-value target drug personalities and residents of Sta. Cruz, Bugoac, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

Two minors both aged 14 were also arrested during the operation. The two, residents of Sto. NiÃ±o, Brgy. 31, Cagayan de Oro City, were caught sniffing shabu during the sting operation.

Confiscated during the operation were 40 plastic sachets in different sizes of suspected shabu weighing more or less 50 grams, assorted drug paraphernalia, two P500 bills used as marked money, a homemade caliber .38 pistol, cash amounting to P760 in various denominations, six cellular phones and a black pouch.

The rescued minors were turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Cagayan de Oro City.

Confiscated pieces of drug evidence were brought to the PDEA RO10 laboratory for forensic examination, while the arrested suspects are temporarily detained at the PDEA RO 10 jail facility.

Nasser will be charged for violation of Section 6 (Maintenance of a Den, Dive or Resort), Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Section 12 (Possession of Equipment and Other Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

He will also face charges for violation of RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives).

The other 20 arrested drug personalities will also be charged for violation of Section 7 (Employees and Visitors of a Den, Dive or Resort), and Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of R. A. 9165.