2 suspects held, crystal meth seized in Maguindanao raid

COTABATO CITY — A woman suspected of being a drug dealer and a village official, who allegedly prevented her arrest, were nabbed by authorities Wednesday, Aug. 5, in a raid in Maguindanao.

Director Juvenal Azurin of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Bangsamoro region, identified the drug suspect as Nasraila Ugan.

Ugan transacted with an undercover agent the sale of P340,000 worth of crystal meth in her place in Kabuntalan village of Sultan Kudarat town around 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

Seized from her were about 50 grams of suspected meth (shabu), but her husband, Ali Jugan, was able to escape.

Ugan was also caught in possession of the marked money, which consist of genuine and photocopied bills, Azurin said.

Azurin added that a certain Badrudin Datumanong Pinguiaman, chief of Kabuntalan village, was also arrested allegedly preventing the arrest of Ugan.

Two unlicensed caliber .45 pistols with magazines were also seized from him, according to Azurin.

The operation was undertaken by joint forces of the PDEA, Sultan Kudarat municipal police office, Police Maritime Group and the Army’s 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team.

Azurin said Pinguiaman would be charged for obstruction of justice and possession of unlicensed firearms, while Ugan would be charged for possession of illegal drugs.

Both are now held at the PDEA detention facility in Cotabato City.

LZB