3 drug suspects nabbed with P1.3-M meth in Cotabato City

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COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao, Philippines — Drug enforcement agents, backed by police officers and soldiers, arrested on Monday three drug peddlers in a buy-bust operation in this city and seized from them P13. million worth of suspected crystal meth.

The operation was conducted in Barangay Poblacion 8 at 3 p.m, with an undercover agent trying to buy 200 grams of meth from a certain “Saber,” according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM).

Sensing he was dealing with an undercover agent, Saber quickly fled aboard a motorbike, leaving behind his three companions who were carrying the meth, locally known as shabu.

The PDEA-BARMM withheld the identities of the suspects, one of whom is a minor.

A manhunt continues for Saber.

Agents recovered two motorbikes, four big sachets containing the meth, mobile phones, and some personal belongings of the suspects.

The PDEA credited a civilian for giving them a tip that lead them to the group. Agents conducted surveillance on them prior to the operation.

Rogelito Daculla, regional director of PDEA, lauded the operating units and appealed to local officials and residents to help the agency eliminate the scourge of illegal drugs.

Charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared against the suspects who are now at the PDEA detention facility in Cotabato City.

Last Saturday, the PDEA-BARMM also nabbed a suspected drug peddler, Buhare Abusupian of Talayan, Maguindanao, and seized from him 500 grams of meth worth P3.4 million in an operation in Barangay Tamontaka, Cotabato City.

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