Dutch arrested for operating drug den in Butuan City

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested last week a Dutch national suspected of managing a drug den in Butuan City, along with seven of his “customers.”

Robert Stoffelen, 51, was collared at a boarding house he ran in Barangay (village) Holy Redeemer in Butuan City on basis of a search warrant issued by a local court.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said the foreigner was suspected of using his boarding house as an illegal drugs den.

Arrested with Stoffelen last Thursday at around 11:50 a.m. were his “customers” Sallie Villahermosa, 35; Rey Roco, 32; Alfie Semogan; Joseph Tucang; 21; Ryan Calub, 21; Renwek Pecasales, 2; and Susan Pugahan, 28; all residents of Butuan City.

Cacdac said Stoffelen would be charged for maintaining a drug den, possessing illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The seven others would be charged separately for being drug den patrons under the same law, the PDEA official stressed.

The PDEA Regional Office 13 Special Enforcement Team led by director Erwin Ogario and the Butuan City police searched Stoffelen’s boarding house on suspicion that it was being used by illegal drug users as a hideout and den.  The operation was covered by a search warrant issued by Butuan City Regional Trial Court Branch 1 Judge Eduardo Casals.

The seven Filipinos arrested were inside the drug den when the PDEA raided the boarding house.

Seized from the suspects were three pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia, two cell phones, money in various denominations and two units of a fruit game machine.

Stoffelen and the other suspects are now detained at the regional PDEA office in Butuan City while the confiscated drugs and paraphernalia are now being subjected to forensic examination., according to the PDEA.

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