Anti-narcotics agents arrested at least 10 people following a simultaneous raid on three houses allegedly used as drug dens in Barangay 17, Cagayan de Oro.
Armed with search warrants, agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Northern Mindanao (PDEA-10) swooped in on the three houses and caught the suspects allegedly in the act of using illegal drugs.
Three suspects were arrested from one house, including the person who allegedly maintained the den identified as alias “Tugak.”
Seized from the suspects were suspected illegal drugs worth around P81,000.
Seven other suspects were arrested from the other houses with sachets of suspected shabu worth more than P156,000.
“During the service of the search warrant at doon naman sa isang buy-bust operation ay naaktohan na gumagamit nagkalat yung mga paraphernalia at iba’t-ibang sachet ng methamphetamine hydrochloride,” PDEA-10 Director, Atty. Benjamin Gaspi, said.
According to barangay officials, the suspects were already monitored and told to stop their illegal activities even before the operation.
“It’s a good news para sa among barangay kay nahadlok gyud ang mga user ang uban naa sa ilang mga balay karon dili gapanggawas,” Barangay 17 Chairman, Anthony Atterviry, said.
The barangay chairman said the alleged drug dens have posed a risk to residents, especially minors, as strangers have been visiting the area.
“Ang sakit man gud sa akong buot apil na ang mga bata makakita unya ang ilang comment sa mga bata pagmagstorya sa ako kay “Kap unsa mana kap nga mamaligya man sila og drugs diha sa dalan,” Atterviry said.
Gaspi said the simultaneous operations stirred residents in the area.
“Napakalaking epekto ito o impact sa community kasi makikita niyo dahil during sa anti-illegal drug operation halos lahat ng mga tao doon ay nag-uumpukan sa labas, nagkwekwentohan so halos buong barangay ang nayanig,” Gaspi added.