P17M in meth, 10 guns seized, 19 suspects nabbed in 5-day police raids in BARMM

Suspect in handcuffs graphics. INQUIRER.net

COTABATO CITY—The police in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said they arrested in the last five days 19 suspected law violators and seized more than P17 million worth of crystal meth.

Many of the arrested were drug peddlers and wanted persons, said Brigadier-General Arthur Cabalona, director of the Police Regional Office-BARMM.

Cabalona said 17 of 19 suspects were involved in the illegal drug trade across the region.

More than 2,200 grams of shabu worth about P17,056,548 were seized in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi provinces.

Most of the meth were seized in Lanao del Sur and Sulu. More than P10 million worth of meth were recovered in Maguing, Lanao del Sur, where three persons were arrested.

Cabalona said seven wanted persons were arrested based on warrants issued by local courts, while 10 unlicensed firearms were also confiscated.

In Sulu, police convinced four Abu Sayyaf extremists to surrender with their firearms.

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