DRUG DEN DISMANTLED. Ernesto Salibay (3rd from right), a suspected owner of a drug den, is arrested with his visitor in a raid on Friday afternoon (July 8, 2022) in Purok Alang Alang, Barangay Ipil, Surigao City. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Caraga Region said a total of PHP1,001,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized in four separate operations conducted in different areas in the region from July 4 to 8. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-13) BUTUAN CITY - Four separate operations conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Caraga Region (PDEA-13) early this July have led to the confiscation of an estimated 146 grams of illegal drugs worth PHP1,001,000. The series of operations conducted on July 4, 5, 6, and 8 also resulted in the dismantling of two suspected drug dens and the arrest of eight suspects and one considered at large. Dindo Abellanosa of the information office of PDEA-13 on Saturday said the buy-bust on Friday afternoon in Purok Alang Alang, Barangay Ipil, Surigao City resulted in the confiscation of 16 grams of shabu and the arrest of the owner of a drug den identified as Ernesto Salibay. A visitor at the drug den, identified as Noel Seidel, was arrested during the raid while another one, identified as Noel Canicula, managed to escape. "Authorities seized a total of PHP102,000 worth of illegal drugs during the raid in the said drug den," Abellanosa said. A drug den was also dismantled during the operation on July 6 in Purok 15-A, in Barangay Baan KM 3 here. Arrested were Cherry Boy Basalo, the owner of the said drug den, and his two visitors identified as Christian Acompaniado and Rey Boy Taborada. Confiscated from the suspects were 15 grams of shabu with a market value of PHP100,000. On July 5, PDEA-13 agents, together with the personnel of Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office, arrested Mark Anthony Cuyag, a high-value target in an operation conducted in Purok Sampaguita, Barangay Central in Placer, Surigao del Norte. Seized from the suspects were 51 grams of shabu worth PHP357,000. On July 4, the PDEA-13 and the operatives from Butuan City Police Office nabbed Reymund Tupag and Edmund Abdon in a buy-bust conducted in Purok 5, Barangay Limaha here. Confiscated from the suspects were 65 grams of shabu worth PHP442,000. (PNA) }