Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested a 65-year-old woman, who is the suspected leader of a drug syndicate, during the enforcement of a search warrant late last week.

Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr., PDEA director general identified the suspect as Violeta Vallecer, alias Ate Vi, a widow and resident of Barangay Danglayan, San Pascual, Batangas.

Cacdac said that Vallecer was reportedly the leader of the Contreras Drug Group, which operating in Batangas.

“Despite her age, she’s never too old to occupy the highest echelon of the drug group, where she is also the financier and trader,” Cacdac added.

Armed with a search warrant, combined operatives of PDEA Regional Office 4A (PDEA RO4A) under Director Emerson Margate and Batangas police swooped down on the house of Vallecer.

The drug enforcement agents immediately arrested her after she was caught red-handed in possession of seven sachets of shabu of about 35 grams.

Also recovered from Vallecer were one Mitsubishi Adventure Sports with plate number XAY-130, a laptop, cash, including three mobile phones, which the suspect reportedly used in her drug transactions.

Vallecer is now under the custody of PDEA RO4A. Charges for violation of Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article 2 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared for filing in court against her.