Spaniard, alleged top regional drug personality, killed in Surigao del Norte

January 9, 2020

A Spaniard who alleged to be the Caraga regional police's Top 1 High Value Target, was killed in a buy-bust operation in Surigao Del Norte last Wednesday.

Police Brigadier General Joselito Esquivel said killed was Diego Lapuente who is reported to be first in their regional drug personalities.

Esquivel said operatives conducted a buy-bust operation around 1:50 am at Barangay 3, General Luna against the suspect.

Lapuente sensed he was dealing with law enforcers and suddenly fired at them, prompting the officers to retaliate, the police report said.

Confiscated from the suspect were 10 grams of cocaine, P30,000 marked money and a pistol. Another five grams were also recovered at the crime scene.

The suspect was brought to Siargao Island District Hospital for medical treatment but declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Police Major Renel Serrano, Caraga police spokesperson, said operatives monitored Lapuente, a businessman, for three months.

“His activity on illegal drugs is on-off,” Serrano told The Daily Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.

Serrano said there is a possibility that Lapuente’s supply came from bricks of cocaine found floating in the shores last year.

“It’s possible that the drugs came from here because ports in Surigao Del Norte are strict so possibly the cocaine came from the sea,” Serrano said.

Serrano reminded the public to surrender to authorities any bricks of cocaine they have as it is illegal. Ella Dionisio/DMS