3 arrested, P3.4M ‘shabu’ seizedin Legazpi buy-bust

LEGAZPI CITY -- Anti-narcotics operatives in Bicol are ot on the trail of a drug syndicate leader operating in the region who sources illegal drugs from a Muslim community in Taguig City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

In an interview, PDEA 5 (Bicol) Acting Director Christian Frivaldo said P3.4M worth of suspected shabu were seized in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Bogtong here Thursday last week.

Joint PDEA and police operatives arrested Victor Balictar Jr., Steven Roger Altea, and KenjieBabasawhile in the act of selling two knot-tied plastic bags containing 500 grams of shabu to an undercover PDEA agent.

Frivaldo said the arrested suspects were allegedly members of a drug syndicate that supplies drugs to Barangays Oro Site, Bitano and Bonot, which are considered as “illegal drug hubs” in this city.

The leader of the drug syndicate was able to escape during the anti-drug operation.

Frivaldo refused to divulge the identity of the drug leader as it could jeopardize the agency's ongoing surveillance operation. PNA