Cantilan, Surigao del Sur – A coordinated operation between the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office XIII (PDEA RO XIII) and the Cantilan Municipal Police Station successfully dismantled a drug den in Purok 5A, Sitio Tapa, Barangay San Pedro, on the night of October 3, 2024. The buy-bust operation, carried out at 8:44 PM, resulted in the arrest of three suspects identified as Neyther Buniel y Balunos, Justine Sam Pantejo y Doloriel, and Liberato Azarcon y Gawat.
During the raid, authorities seized a sachet of shabu worth ₱1,000, along with four additional sachets containing approximately five grams of the illegal drug, valued at ₱36,000. Drug paraphernalia and a marked ₱1,000 bill used in the operation were also confiscated.
The suspects are now facing multiple charges for violating Sections 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), 7 (Employees and Visitors of a Drug Den), 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia) under Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Authorities commended the success of the operation, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance in the community. PDEA called on the public to report suspicious activities, underscoring the crucial role of community cooperation in the ongoing fight against illegal drugs.
