MATI CITY, Davao Oriental--- Another illegal drug den in the City of Mati was busted, suspects were arrested, and paraphernalia were confiscated during the recently held joint buy-bust operation  of  the police and drug investigation agents.

Conducted at around 6:00 in the evening on Aug 12, 2022 at Golden Valley, Barangay Central, Mati City, Davao Oriental, the joint operation principally involved the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office XI, Davao Oriental Police Office, Mati City Police Station, and Police Regional Office XI Regional Intelligence Unit.

The subject of the buy-bust operation identified as Norman Gil Empuesto alias Bin, however managed to elude the arrest after sensing the operation, but his son and cohorts in the illegal drug activities were arrested.

Nabbed were Norman Vence Empuesto and drug den visitors Rex Fernandez and Gelbert Yap.

Seized during the operation were one piece of small and one large heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu’ weighing more or less 10 grams with a street value of Php. 150,000. Also confiscated were  assorted drug paraphernalia.

PDEA Regional Director  Aileen T. Lovitos said that the suspects will be charged for violation of  Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) Section 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), Section 7 (Employees and Visitors of a Den), 13 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs During Parties, Social Gatherings or Meetings,) and Section 14 (Possession of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus and Other Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs During Parties, Social Gatherings or Meetings), Article II of Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  (PDEA/jmda)