DAVAO CITY — Police arrested two alleged high-value individuals (HVIs) in separate drug buy-bust operations in Davao City on August 28, resulting in the seizure of approximately 10 kilograms of suspected marijuana and 18 disposable marijuana vape pens with a combined estimated standard drug price of about ₱1.52 million.
The operations were carried out by personnel of Police Station 15–Ecoland, in coordination with the station’s Drug Enforcement Team (SDET), the 1st and 2nd City Mobile Force Companies (CMFC), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region XI (PDEA XI) and the National Bureau of Investigation Region XI (NBI XI).
Police said the two operations were conducted less than an hour apart and resulted in the arrests of two alleged drug personalities in separate barangays.
First operation
The first operation was conducted at about 12:22 p.m. in Barangay 76-A, where police arrested an individual identified by the alias “Kap,” described by authorities as a high-value individual and top-priority illegal drug personality.
According to police, the suspect was arrested after allegedly selling one cling-wrapped, rolled black-cellophane package containing suspected marijuana leaves to a police officer acting as the poseur-buyer.
The transaction led to the suspect’s immediate arrest.
Police said operatives subsequently recovered approximately five kilograms of suspected marijuana leaves from Kap. Authorities placed the estimated standard drug price of the seized marijuana at ₱725,000.
The arrest formed the first part of the coordinated operations conducted by the law enforcement units against suspected marijuana distribution in the city.
Second suspect arrested
About an hour later, at approximately 1:15 p.m., police conducted a second operation in Barangay 19-B, also in Davao City.
Personnel of Police Station 15, led by PMAJ Rosario T. Aguilar, Acting Station Commander, arrested another alleged high-value drug personality identified as “Jhaylord Baguio.”
Recovered during the operation were four bricks of suspected dried marijuana leaves with fruiting tops, four rolled packages of suspected marijuana and 18 sealed disposable marijuana vape pens.
Police estimated the total weight of the suspected dried marijuana leaves with fruiting tops at approximately five kilograms, with an estimated standard drug price of ₱725,000.
The 18 disposable marijuana vape pens were separately valued by authorities at approximately ₱72,000.
Combined with the marijuana seized during the first operation, the two drug stings resulted in the recovery of approximately 10 kilograms of suspected marijuana, plus the 18 disposable marijuana vape pens.
The total estimated standard drug price of the confiscated items was placed at approximately ₱1.522 million.
Continued anti-drug campaign
The back-to-back operations underscore the continuing efforts of law enforcement authorities in Davao City to disrupt the distribution of illegal drugs, particularly marijuana and marijuana-derived products.
PMAJ Aguilar said the police station would continue conducting operations against individuals allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
“There is no let-up in our campaign against illegal drugs. Today’s two successful operations show our firm commitment to apprehend individuals involved in the illegal drug trade and prevent these illegal activities from reaching our communities,” Aguilar said.
The arrested suspects and confiscated drug evidence were placed under police custody for proper documentation and the filing of appropriate charges.
Authorities said the seized substances will undergo the required examination and disposition procedures as part of the investigation.
The arrests remain allegations at this stage, and the suspects are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.