A Japanese national was arrested by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI during a buy-bust operation in Cliffhanger restaurant, Sitio Baluyan, Barangay Bolton, Malalag, Davao del Sur on Monday around 6:30 p.m.
Authorities were able to confiscate more or less 800 grams of shabu worth P96,000.
Also yesterday, a government employee of Davao Oriental province and his companion were arrested in Barangay Central, Mati City.
Antonio Rivera, the director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI, told TIMES that Paul Kalay Nakagawa, a Japanese national, was with alias Bogie during the buy-bust but the latter eluded arrest.
He said Nakagawa is considered a high-value target of the PDEA watchlist.
“He is operating in Davao Occidental and Malungon, Sarangani province,” he added.
The operation was led by PDEA-Davao Occidental Drug Enforcement Office led by agent Cheryl Legaspi- Ngoho, together with the Davao del Sur Provincial Drug Enforcement Office led by agent Mildred Romero, Davao City Drug Enforcement Office led by Agent Jenalyn Tan; and Malungon Municipal Police Station under Supt. Ramon Gencianos.
Meanwhile, Dave Guinita, 24, laborer and a resident of Purok Seaside, Barangay Lawigan; and Erlanie Cani Jr., 22, single, a provincial employee (JO), and a resident of Batman village, Barangay Dahican, were arrested in a buy-bust in Barangay Central Mati around 1 a.m. yesterday.
Confiscated from them was one gram of shabu worth P12,000 and the P500 marked money. The motorcycle used by the suspects in their transactions was also impounded.
The operation was led by the Davao Oriental Provincial Drug Enforcement Office led by Agent Eleazar Arapoc and Mati City Police Station-City Drug Enforcement Unit led by Supt. Adolfo Eyan.
The suspects are now detained in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI detention facility for the filing of appropriate case for the violation of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
