By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – A team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-6 arrested eight individuals, including a Grade 12 senior high school student and an architect, during a raid on a suspected drug den in Purok Lubi, Barangay 3 last Thursday.
The raid culminated in the arrest of Jose Weber, a former seafarer and the alleged maintainer of the drug den, after two weeks of surveillance.
Agent Alvin Clemente, the team leader of PDEA-Regional Special Enforcement Team (RSET) Bravo, reported that they acted on community tips about Weber’s suspected illegal activities, which led to further investigation.
Clemente recounted that Weber had previously faced drug charges but was acquitted and released from jail.
During the operation, which involved coordination with PDEA-Negros Occidental and the Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG)-Special Operations Unit (SOU)-6, seven others, including Weber’s son, were arrested at the location.
Authorities confiscated 30 grams of suspected shabu, valued at the standard market price of P204,000, along with various drug paraphernalia.
Clemente disclosed that some suspects were allegedly engaged in a “pot session” at the time of the bust.
He expressed concern over the easy influence of illegal drug activities in the area due to its proximity to known drug hotspots.
All suspects have tested positive for drug use and are set to face corresponding charges, as confirmed by Clemente.
