Davao Oriental – Authorities conducted two successful buy-bust operations in Davao Oriental on October 31, leading to the arrests of two drug suspects and the dismantling of an illegal drug den.
The first operation took place at around 9:50 a.m. in Purok Malipayon 3, Barangay Poblacion, Lupon, where personnel from the Lupon Municipal Police Station apprehended a 40-year-old suspect identified only as alias “Abdul.” Confiscated from Abdul were seven plastic sachets containing a crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, one sachet of marijuana, a Redmi cellphone, an unlicensed .45 caliber handgun, live ammunition, and various drug paraphernalia. Officials estimated the seized shabu to weigh 0.40 grams and the marijuana to weigh 0.90 grams. The operation was conducted with the presence of local barangay officials, media representatives, and staff from the Davao Oriental Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
The Lupon Municipal Police reported that the suspect is in custody, and charges are being prepared for violations of Section 5 and 11, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165) and RA 10591 for illegal possession of firearms.
Later in the evening, another operation took place around 9:00 p.m. in Sitio Bitoun, Barangay Don Enrique Lopez, Mati City. Led by the Mati City Police Station in collaboration with units from the Maritime Group, the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the operation targeted a 42-year-old man known as “Boying,” alleged to be the maintainer of an illegal drug den. The authorities confiscated an elongated sachet containing an estimated 2 grams of shabu valued at Php13,000. Alongside Boying, several individuals present at the drug den were apprehended.
Both operations were supported by community members and barangay officials, reinforcing the active local stance against illegal drug activities. The Mati City Police Station expressed gratitude for the community’s cooperation, emphasizing its significance in the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs and criminality in the region. The cases for the suspects are being processed for court filing.
Local police reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining these anti-drug initiatives, aiming to promote peace and order in Davao Oriental with the continued support of vigilant citizens.
