GenSan drug den gang busted by authorities

GENERAL SANTOS CITY --- A drug den operator and five others were arrested here late Thursday by combined agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and personnel of the city police office.Naravy Duquiatan, PDEA director for Region 12, said Friday drug den owner Christine Madison Lozada Chua is now detained along with accomplices Shirley Martinez Lozada, Charmaine Cablitas Vallinas, Galvin Salasayo Capilitan and Jovert Tio Mendoza.All five of them were nabbed inside their hideout in Barangay Dadiangas here, from where they distributed methamphetamine hydrochloride, most known as shabu.The group also used their lair as a drug den accommodating habitual users, among them wanted persons and minors.Duquiatan said the operation that resulted in the arrest of Chua and her companions was aided by personnel of the General Santos City police office and vigilant barangay leaders.PDEA-12 agents recovered from the suspects P170,000 worth of shabu and drug sniffing paraphernalia. They are among our high-value targets in the city. We are thankful to the support of patriotic sectors that provided information on their illegal activity, Duquiatan said.Duquiatan said the detained suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 that outlawed possession and sale of narcotics and other regulated substances.