(Photo courtesy of Dagupan City Police Office)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Authorities seized more than Php 5.8 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested two women classified as high-value individuals (HVIs) during a joint anti-drug operation in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, on Thursday night.
In a statement Friday, the Dagupan City Police Office (DCPO) said operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted the buy-bust operation at approximately 11:30 p.m.
The suspects were identified as a 37-year-old woman residing in Mangaldan, Pangasinan, who originally came from Valenzuela City, and her 49-year-old companion, an unemployed widow from Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Police recovered approximately 863 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, packed in plastic bags, along with other drug-related paraphernalia.
The confiscated illegal drugs were estimated to have a street value exceeding Php 5.8 million.
During the operation, authorities also found the two-year-old daughter of the 37-year-old suspect at the scene.
Police immediately placed the child under protective custody and turned her over to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of Police Station 2.
The child was referred for appropriate care and assistance in coordination with social welfare authorities.
DCPO Director Col. Arnold Solomon reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to intensifying anti-illegal drug operations while ensuring the safety of vulnerable individuals.
“We will continue to track down drug syndicates while ensuring that the innocent, especially vulnerable children, are protected,” Solomon said.
Authorities have yet to release additional details regarding the suspects’ alleged drug distribution activities and possible connections to larger illegal drug networks.
The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by the PNP and PDEA to combat illegal drug trafficking in Dagupan City and neighboring areas of Pangasinan.
