PDEA seizes P69M shabu in Northern Samar

Northern Samar map

TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and local police in Eastern Visayas on Monday seized 10.4 kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine) worth P69 million from a man passing through Northern Samar.

Mangayao Lapan Mitomara, 40, of Dasmariñas Cavite,  did not resist arrest.

Rogelette Urgel, PDEA regional information officer, said Mitumara was on his way to Marawi from Luzon, when his vehicle was intercepted at about 2:45 p.m. Monday in a checkpoint in Barangay Jubasan, Allen town in Northern Samar.

A report from the regional headquarters in Palo, Leyte showed that the police at the checkpoint stopped Mitumara’s vehicle and found that he was not wearing a seatbelt.

During further questioning, Mitumara confessed that his car was loaded with prohibited drugs.

The police then inspected the vehicle and found illegal drugs inside the trunk.

Urgel said Mitomara would be charged with violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“This is one of the biggest seizures of prohibited drugs in the region. We received a tip about this from our informants, and immediately conducted the operation with the help of PNP and Coast Guard,” Urgel said.

The suspect was temporarily detained in a lockup facility at Allen Municipal Police station.

With a report from Niña Cuasay, INQUIRER.net trainee

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