CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — A suspected high-ranking drug syndicate operative was arrested over the weekend in a sting operation that led to the seizure of P1.8 million worth of shabu, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) said.
The arrest was carried out by the Talavera Municipal Police Station’s Special Drug Enforcement Team, which apprehended the suspect in Barangay Calipahan, Talavera, Nueva Ecija. Authorities said the confiscation of 270 grams of shabu marked one of the largest drug hauls in the province this year.
Police said the operation followed weeks of surveillance and intelligence validation. At around 9:50 a.m. Saturday, undercover officers caught the suspect selling illegal drugs to a police operative posing as a buyer. Marked money used in the transaction and digital evidence allegedly linking the suspect to a wider drug network were also recovered.
The operation was conducted in coordination with PRO3’s Police Intelligence Unit, the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Investigators classified the suspect as a “high-value individual,” a designation used for figures believed to be involved in large-scale drug distribution.
“This isn’t just about seizing drugs—it’s about dismantling networks,” said PRO3 Regional Director PBGen Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones Jr.. “Every arrest at this level disrupts the flow of narcotics into our neighborhoods and sends a clear message: Central Luzon is no safe haven for traffickers.”
The bust aligns with the Philippine National Police’s Focused Agenda, which prioritizes the neutralization of high-impact targets under its “3Ps” framework—Protect the People, Pursue Peace and Order, and Promote Professionalism.
PRO3 reported a 23 percent increase in high-value drug arrests this year, with more than P12 billion worth of shabu seized across Central Luzon since January. Authorities attributed the increase to enhanced inter-agency coordination and improved surveillance capabilities.
The suspect will face charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. PRO3 said follow-up operations are underway to identify and arrest other members of the drug network.