ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 15 February) – A joint buy-bust operation led to the seizure of one kilogram of shabu (crystal meth) valued at P6.8 million in Marawi City on Saturday, February 15.
The suspected shabu and other items allegedly seized from the suspects. Photo courtesy of PDEA-BARMM
Elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 103rd Infantry Brigade, 82nd and 55th Infantry Battalions, Marawi City Police Station and 1403rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion also nabbed two suspects.
Abraham Kalim of PDEA-BARMM said they found the suspects identified as Jamil Khalil and Sarangani Bangcorong Khalil alias Nur-yahya and Marlon, respectively, in possession of the shabu during the buy-bust on Amai Pakpak National Highway in Marawi.
The suspects were brought to Cotabato City for the filing of charges.
Kalim’s report said the substance was placed inside two oversized plastic sachets and one large zip transparent plastic sachet.
He said the other evidences included a genuine 1,000 peso bill placed on top of 15 bundles of photocopied one thousand peso bills for the supposed payment of P1.5 million, six identification cards and two leatherette wallets.
This is the second one-kilogram haul of shabu from joint law enforcement operations in Marawi since January this year.
Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo, 103rd Brigade commander said they will continue to support PDEA-BARMM in its campaign against illegal drugs in Marawi and Lanao del Sur.
He said more Maranaos wish to get rid of illegal drugs as they are now the ones pinpointing the alleged “bigtime peddlers”.
In January, Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra, reacting to the anti-illegal drug operations, said the shabu did not come from the city although the transactions took place there.
He refuted earlier allegations of a drug laboratory in the area. (Richel V. Umel/MindaNews)
