Drug ring remnant falls in Samar

MANILA, Philippines - Anti-narcotics agents nabbed a suspected remnant of a local drug ring in a buy bust operation in Catbalogan City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Thursday. 

The PDEA said that Lucilo Daz y Baltazar Jr., 40, of Purok 1, Barangay Bo-ao, Catbalogan City, Samar, was collared by operatives during a sting operation last January 5.

Daz is a remnant of the Arcales drug group which was rendered inoperative by agents of PDEA Regional Office 8 (PDEA RO8) on September 2013.

Belated reports said that last January 5, around 4:30 p.m., combined elements of PDEA RO8 and Catbalogan police conducted a buy-bust operation in Daz’s neighborhood in Barangay Bo-ao that led to his arrest.

Authorities seized 10 plastic sachets containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu with an estimated street value of P10,000.

Cases for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed in court against Daz.