BUSTED. Illegal drugs, marked money, and shabu paraphernalia were seized from two big-time drug peddlers in Cotabato City during an anti-drug operation on Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024. PHOTOS COURTESY OF PDEA-BARMM
COTABATO CITY — After two weeks of poseur dealing with their targets, anti-narcotics agents arrested two men in possession of a kilo of shabu (crystal meth) worth P6.8 million during a drug buy-bust operation in a busy commercial district here at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Gil Cesario Castro, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said Ebrahim Guinda Esmael, 43, and Dali Malogayak Abdulkarim, 49, were arrested during a buy-bust operation on Governor Gutierrez Avenue, Rosary Heights 9.
The suspects are residents of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, and considered high-value targets by PDEA.
The PDEA also seized two mobile phones, identification cards, and marked money from the suspects.
Mayor Bruce Matabalao commended the PDEA, the Cotabato City police office, and the Cotabato City Public Safety Office.
BUSTED. Illegal drugs, marked money, and shabu paraphernalia were seized from two big-time drug peddlers (seated, handcuffed) in Cotabato City during an anti-drug operation on Tuesday, Aug 20, 2024. PHOTOS COURTESY OF PDEA-BARMM
Two hours earlier, police arrested four drug users caught in the act of sniffing prohibited substances in a densely populated area in Barangay Poblacion Mother.
Major John Vincent Bravo, police station 1 chief, said one of the four suspects admitted having used illegal drugs while the three said they were unaware of the pot session and insisted they were just passing by on their way to the city market.
Police Colonel Joel Estaris, director of the Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO), said those arrested included Dima Samama Basuel, 49, a fish vendor; Phehan Laguialam Lidasan, 29; Saripa Laguialam Vicente, 21; and Jimmy Manabilang Laguialam, 72, all sidewalk vendors and residents of the place.
Police seized from the four suspects an unspecified amount of drugs and other paraphernalia.
The two suspects have been detained in the facilities of PDEA BARMM, while the other four were at the PNP detention facility in the province as charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were being prepared against them.