Notorious drug syndicate chief fall in Benguet raid

August 14, 2021 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (August 14, 2021)—- Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Cordillera agents together with Benguet policemen raided an alleged drug den in Tuba, Benguet Thursday evening and took a notorious drug syndicate leader and two of his “Lieutenants” to face illegal drug charges.
A government agent who posed as poseur-buyer confirmed there was drug trading at the house of Ricardo Ocampo Manuzon alias “Bryan” at
Sitio Tagadi, Barangay Tadiangan, Tuba town, prompting government agents to swopped down at him where he was also with his drug trade “Lieutenants” —Rechie Lumibao Sison and Jan Derik Bayona Damoco.
One of the syndicate members even tried to grab his firearm, PDEA- Cordillera director Gil Casto said, but was subdued.
Eight sachets containing shabu weighing a total of 5 grams with an estimated value of P34,000.00; another sachet of suspected liquified shabu worth P62, 628.00 were caught at the syndicate’s lair including a cal. 38 revolver, five cal. 38 live ammunition and several drug paraphernalia.
The three, whom PDEA claimed to be supplying drugs to street level Zzdrug peddlers, even users, are now facing drug charges in Benguet.
Director Castro further bared that Manuson gained notoriety in his community being a suspect in several murders in the area.
“He was tailed for two months after neighbors and other members of his community hinted authorities of his drug trading.
Artemio A. Dumlao