Times Bar raid rounds up 125

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Guillermo Eleazar

The police rounded up 125 people following an anti-drug sting operation in a Makati bar yesterday.

Reports said customers and employees, including local and foreign individuals, of Times Bar were invited to the police station for questioning following the raid conducted around 9:30 in the morning.

A total of 31 employees of the restaurant were arrested for allegedly selling illegal drugs.

Items recovered during the police operation include several pieces of alleged ecstasy tablets, several plastic sachets containing suspected cocaine and shabu, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

According to the police the suspects are allegedly selling party drugs for up to P2,000 each.

Following the operation, National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar personally went to the bar to inspect the evidence after the operation.

He said that according to the report, an undercover went to the bar to buy illegal drugs. He reportedly talked to the bouncer and a waiter who both went to the office of the manager to get the order.

Reports said bar manager Danny Regino denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade.

The police readied a raid on the establishment after a drug suspect arrested last week told authorities he is getting his supply from the bar.

Police are still conducting follow up operations to search for possible additional evidence.

Meanwhile, the Southern Police District (SPD) arrested a total of 33 suspected drug pushers and users in separate operations Friday.

According to Supt. Jenny Tecson, chief of SPD’s public information office, the Taguig City police Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) captured eleven drug suspects while the Parañaque City police’s operations resulted to the arrest of nine.

Police sources told the Daily Tribune that drug trafficking and abuse remains rampant in Taguig, particularly in Barangays Bagumbayan, New Lower Bicutan, Upper Bicutan and Maharlika.

The Makati City police, on the other hand, arrested six drug suspects, Pasay City police bagged five, while police operations in Las Pinas and Muntinlupa netted one drug suspect each, according to Tecson.

SPD, headed Chief Supt. Tomas Apolinaro Jr., seized a total of 28 sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia from the arrested suspects, who will be facing charges for violation of the anti-drug laws.

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