PDEA raids Marikina drug den that uses kids as runners

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) launched a raid on a Marikina City drug den that used children as runners.

According to John Consulta’s “24 Oras” report on Tuesday, eight suspects, including the primary target and drug den operator Grace Ducta, were arrested while P86,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized.

“Itong drug den na nahuli natin ngayon ay tinatawag na one-stop shop… ‘Yung modus operandi po nila, ‘yung mga bata po ‘yung kanilang ginagawang runner,” PDEA NCR chief Adrian Alvarino said.

The suspects denied involvement in the illegal drug trade.

However, a surveillance video from the PDEA showed the suspects repacking drugs while children accepted money from customers.

After the operation, PDEA gave out comics with an anti-illegal drugs theme to children in the area.

The Dangerous Drugs Board earlier said that since President Rodrigo Duterte's Administration launched its war on drugs, there were now 1.67 million Filipinos aged 10 to 69 who were drug users. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News