‘Drug trafficking queen’ arrested in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Authorities here on Wednesday announced the arrest of suspected drug trafficker Nurhana Musa Lao and two others during a buy-bust operation conducted on Tuesday.

Supt. Joseph Ladip, regional head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Mindanao, said suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride), weighing at least 100 grams, was seized from Lao, her son Pedemar Usman and a Maureen Taraji during the antidrug operation on Santo Niño Drive in Barangay Tetuan shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday.  “The seized drug has an estimated market value of P100,000,” Ladip told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Marvin Santos, PDEA’s chief of operations, said Lao—also known as Benita Lao—was one of the biggest distributors of prohibited drugs in this city and neighboring areas.

“Around 85 percent of drugs flowing into Zamboanga City and nearby provinces comes from her group. She is one of the leaders of the drug syndicates in the region,” Santos said.

He said Lao’s operation extended as far as Basilan.

Lao was arrested in 2007 for illegal drugs but the case against her was dismissed.

Two years ago, Lao’s Navarra vehicle was also intercepted by authorities, from which P1.7 million in drug money was recovered. In December, authorities also recovered P6 million worth of shabu from a condominium owned by Lao but the suspect eluded arrest. SM