PDEA nabs drug gang chief, 2 others

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said yesterday it has neutralized the Aprid Gang drug syndicate with the arrest of its alleged leader and two members.

PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago said Ace Lao Aprid, alleged leader of the gang, and suspects Rollie Rivera and Lennie Matute were collared in separate operations by anti-narcotics agents last week in Pasay City.

Santiago said his men caught Aprid, 31, and Rivera, 34, last Nov. 18 allegedly in the act of selling methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P650,000 during a buy-bust in front of Longwood Hotel along F.B. Harrison street.

The next day, Santiago said his men arrested Matute, 40, near his house on Cuyengking street in Pasay for allegedly selling two sachets of shabu and a sachet of cocaine.

He said the suspects were included in an operation plan to nail down high-level figures in the illegal drug trade.

Aprid was released from prison three weeks ago after serving his term for possession of illegal firearms and selling of narcotics. – Edu Punay