March 29, 2024

Five suspects facing drug charges were arrested by law enforcement units in separate operations in Baguio City and Benguet from March 6 to 9.  

The series of arrests yielded close to P370,000 worth of illegal drugs.

In Baguio City, a drug den in Barangay Leonila Hill was raided by the Baguio City Police Office Aurora Hill Police Station 6, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and City Drug Enforcement Unit on March 8 to 9 by virtue of a search warrant.

This resulted in the arrest of alias “Ace”, who is listed as a high-value individual target and a 26-year-old male accomplice, who is a newly-identified drug personality, and a resident of Barangay Pinsao Pilot Proper.

“The operation was launched after a long-term surveillance of the suspects’ illegal activities and the place they are turning into a drug den,” BCPO Information Officer Lt. Angeline Dongpaen said.

Dongpaen said police have recovered 48 grams of suspected shabu packed in 13 plastic sachets worth P326,400, assorted drug paraphernalia, and cash amounting to P14,190 believed to be proceeds from the illegal transaction.

The arrested suspects and the seized pieces of evidence were brought to the NBI-CAR headquarters for safekeeping and documentation.

Dexter Obial Balanza was also arrested by the BCPO Legarda Police Station 5 and PDEA-Benguet after he sold a sachet of suspected shabu weighing around 0.4 grams estimated to cost P2,720 to an operative who acted as a buyer.

In Benguet, Sahranie Jamael Omar and a 17-year-old female minor were arrested by operatives of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and La Trinidad Municipal Police Station in Barangay Balili, La Trinidad, after they sold a sachet of suspected shabu weighing around one gram estimated to cost P6,800 to a poseur buyer.

Another plastic sachet containing suspected shabu with an estimated weight of five grams amounting to P34,000 was also seized from their possession.

The inventory of the recovered evidence was conducted on-site in the presence of the arrested suspects and witnessed by representatives from the Department of Justice, media, and barangay officials.

The suspects will face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. – Ofelia C. Empian