Drug Den Dismantled in Rizal; 5 Arrested

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), assisted by police, dismantled an alleged drug den and arrested five suspects in Binangonan, Rizal, early on Friday. The PDEA office in the Calabarzon region said its Rizal provincial office conducted a buy-bust operation that led to the raid of the suspected drug den in Barangay San Carlos at around 12:49 a.m. The operation resulted in the arrest of five alleged drug users, whose identities were withheld pending the filing of charges. They will be detained pending the filing of cases. Authorities also rescued a minor found inside the suspected drug den. The child will be referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for appropriate intervention and disposition in accordance with existing laws. Seized during the operation were about five grams of suspected shabu (crystal meth) with an estimated street value of P34,000, about one gram of suspected marijuana, and assorted drug paraphernalia. The suspects are now under PDEA custody and will face charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Combating illegal drugs remains a national priority for the Philippines, with PDEA continuously intensifying its enforcement operations. Raids targeting drug dens and the arrest of users and pushers are frequent, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. This operation is part of ongoing efforts to maintain public order and safety.