Anti-narcotics authorities confiscated a total of P1.5 million worth of suspected high-grade marijuana or kush following the arrest of an alleged high-value drug dealer in a buy-bust operation in Antipolo City, Rizal on Thursday, March 9, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The PDEA Rizal Provincial Office and the Antipolo City police station identified the suspect as Ardenel Andaya.

PDEA said the suspect was caught during a drug sting in Barangay Mambugan after authorities received information from tipsters of his whereabouts that led to the operation.

PDEA said that Andaya has been the subject of numerous complaints from the community allegedly due to his illegal drug-dealing ways.

The operating units also confiscated various illegal drug paraphernalia and buy-bust money from Andaya, PDEA noted.

Andaya faces charges for violations of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act (RA) No 9165 otherwise known as “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.’’