P2-M illegal drugs seized, 2 suspects nabbed

Almost P2-million worth of illegal drugs were seized by authorities while two high value targets (HVTs) were arrested and their drug den was destroyed during Friday’s entrapment operation in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Noli Nephi Dimaandal, information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) 11 said that agents from Pdea Davao Oriental Provincial Office along with their counterparts in Mati City Police Station and Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office-Provincial Intelligence Branch, conducted a buy-bust operation last February 8 at around 4:10 p.m.at Purok Centro, Barangay Tamisan, Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Dimaandal identified the two (HVT) suspects as Francis Joven Malintad Evaristo alias Owen, 36, married and resident of Barangay Lawigan, Mati City, Davao Oriental; and one Rodel Pedraya Juanir alias Bem-Bem.

Evaristo is tagged as the number 9 drug personality in the City Target List operating in Mati City.

Evaristo sold an undercover operative one piece small sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride locally known as “shabu” worth P500.

Further inspection, the raiding team discovered various sizes of sachets of suspected shabu weighing more or less 150 grams with a street value of more or less P1,800,000, assorted drug paraphernalia and the P500 buy-bust marked money.

During the buy bust operation, alias BemBem, a suspected drug den visitor, was also arrested while Genis Evaristo, the suspected drug den maintainer, eluded arrest after sensing the anti-drug operation.

Meanwhile, the suspects are currently detained at Mati City Police Station detention facility and the seized suspected illegal drugs were submitted to Laboratory Service of this office for examination. Cases for violation of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against them.