PDEA nabs Ilocos drug ‘lieutenant’ – BusinessWorld Online
BAGUIO CITY — A suspected “lieutenant” of a drug syndicate operating in Ilocos Norte was cornered on Wednesday afternoon in a barangay in Badoc town, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region I reported.
A member of the “Ronfer Drug Group,”alias Ariz, 38, is a provincial target drug personality, PDEA-1 Director Joel B. Plaza said. He was caught with nine pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing crystal meth (shabu), weighing around seven grams. It was worth P47,600.
The operation, primarily led by PDEA-Ilocos Norte operatives, was a joint effort with Ilocos Norte police anti-drug operatives and police intelligence agents.
PDEA said Ariz will be charged with violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Dugs Act of 2002. He was brought to the Badoc town police station jail.
The Ronfer Drug Group is reportedly operating around Ilocos Norte and could have been crossing borders with Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao and Cagayan provinces for its illicit trade. — Artemio A. Dumlao
