Five individuals, including the alleged maintainer and co-maintainer of a drug den, were arrested after authorities dismantled an alleged illegal drug den during a joint anti-drug operation in Barangay Pantal on Monday, July 13.

The operation was led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Pangasinan Provincial Office in coordination with the Dagupan City Police Office Station 1, the City Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit 1.

According to PDEA, the buy-bust operation was conducted at Sitio Aling, Barangay Pantal, where operatives arrested five suspects. Among them was a 44-year-old woman known by the alias “Fely,” whom authorities identified as the alleged drug den maintainer, and a 50-year-old woman tagged as the alleged co-maintainer. Also arrested were a 41-year-old woman, a 43-year-old man, and a 35-year-old man who were allegedly inside the drug den during the operation.

Authorities said the target area is located near a site that had previously been raided under a search warrant on April 27, 2026.

Seized during the operation were six plastic sachets and one opened sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, along with an aluminum foil strip containing suspected drug residue. Authorities said the suspected illegal drugs weighed about six grams with an estimated standard drug price of ₱40,800. Various items believed to be drug paraphernalia were also recovered.

PDEA said the inventory of the seized evidence was conducted in the presence of barangay officials in accordance with the requirements of Republic Act No. 9165.

PDEA Regional Director Julius M. Paderes said investigators are examining possible links between the dismantled drug den and an operation conducted in the same area in April, during which authorities seized around 48 grams of suspected shabu.

“The fact that this den sprouted right next to our previous major search warrant operation tells us they are testing our resolve,” Paderes said, adding that authorities will pursue charges against individuals found to have facilitated or tolerated illegal drug activities if evidence warrants.

Paderes also credited barangay officials and residents for their cooperation, saying community support played a key role in the successful operation.

The suspects remain under PDEA custody and are set to face charges for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 9165, including the illegal sale of dangerous drugs, maintenance of a drug den, being employees or visitors of a drug den, possession of dangerous drugs during parties or meetings, and possession of drug paraphernalia.