Maguindanao suspect nabbed for having P1 million worth of meth

Suspected drug peddler Yusoph Gumander (seated) bows his head as PDEA agents audit the drugs seized from him during drug buy-bust operation in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao. (Photo from PDEA-BARMM)

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao, Philippines — A suspected peddler of illegal drugs was arrested in a buy-bust operation on Thursday in Sultan Mastura in this province.

PDEA agent Asnawi Salik identified the suspect as Yusoph Gumander, 37, of Barangay Bungabong, Sultan Mastura town, according to his report to Rogelito Daculla, regional director of the PDEA in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM).

Salik said Gumander agreed to sell the crystal meth, more commonly known locally as shabu, to an undercover agent on the national highway in Barangay Macabiso, Sultan Mastura town at around 1 p.m. on Thursday.

The sting operation followed one month of surveillance work on the activities of Gumander, Salik added.

Seized from Gumander were 150 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P1,020,000, the marked “boodle money” worth P300,000, a pouch that contained a mobile phone, P2,000 in cash, a Honda motorcycle, and various identification cards.

Gumander is now detained at the PDEA custodial facility in Cotabato City while charges for violation of the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared against him.

These were the other items seized from the suspect. (Photo from PDEA-BARMM)