The suspects were placed under custody and will be facing criminal charges for violation of Section 5 of Article II of the RA 9165 or the "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002." (Yummie Dingdinf)

Two high-value drug targets may have to spend Christmas in jail after being caught with almost P3.4-million worth of suspected “shabu” at Rizal Park in Manila on Monday.

Nabbed in a buy-bust operation by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were Nasmudin Zacaria y Amil, 28 years old, and Saudi Kayog y Mantil, 24, according to Director III Joel B. Plaza, Regional Director of PDEA Regional Office-NCR.

“Several reports were received by our operatives about the involvement of the above mentioned drug suspects in illegal drug peddling in some parts of Metro Manila,” Plaza said.

The reports prompted the PDEA RO-NCR Northern District Office to set a drug sting against them. One undercover PDEA agent posed as a buyer and transacted with the duo in front of the Quirino Grandstand around 3:50 p.m. Monday that resulted to their arrest.

Responding officers were able to confiscate five pieces of knot-tied transparent plastic packs, each containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, weighing more or less five hundred grams.

The suspects were placed under custody and will be facing criminal charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Illegal Drugs) of Article II of the RA 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.”

Meanwhile, an alleged operator of a drug den and seven individuals were also arrested after being served search warrant in Sampaloc, Manila on Monday morning.

Plaza identified the arrested drug den maintainer as Francis Cabaltera, 40 years old; Joevi Cabaltera, 40 and their alleged accomplices Jeffrey Cabaltera, 32; Jorinna Uson, 29; Lieza Gorospe, 45; Paul Dulay, 49; Ivnor Madisa, 41 and Alvin dela Rosa, 29.

Joint operatives of PDEA RO-NCR MD and MPD PS-4 served the search warrant at around 8:30 a.m. in a lot in Paquita Street. (Yummie Dingding)

Joint operatives of PDEA RO-NCR Manila District Office (MDO) and Manila Police District (MPD) PS-4 served the search warrant at around 8:30 a.m. at unnumbered lot in Paquita Street.

Plaza added that the operation was hatched after operatives placed Cabaltera and his cohorts under a 3-week surveillance, in which they discovered that the suspects can allegedly dispose up to 50 grams of shabu every week.

Confiscated and seized evidences were nine pieces heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be Methphetamine Hyrdochloride also known as shabu, weighing more or less 15 grams with a standard drug price of P102,000 and several drug paraphernalia.

The suspects will be charged with violation of Section 6 (Maintenance of Drug Den), Section 7 (Visitors of a Drug Den), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia) of Article II of the Republic Act 9165 or “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.”