11 kilos of shabu seized from Maute stronghold in Marawi

Authorities present bags of shabu after a drug raid in this undated photo. In Marawi City, soldiers found 11 kilos of shabu from a house used by Maute terrorists. RADYO INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICKY BROSAS

Authorities recovered 11 kilos of suspected shabu from a stronghold of the Maute group in Marawi City during a clearing operation, the military said on Monday.

Troops of Alfa Company led by First Lieutenant Emerson Tapang of the Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion found the shabu and four high-powered firearms in a former Maute position at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Joint Task Force Marawi Brig. Gen. Rolando Bautista said in a statement.

Later, soldiers engaged Maute members in a firefight.

“Soldiers spotted men clad in black emerging from a cluster of houses that prompted troops to maneuver. The terrorists put up a fight but fled while carrying items taken from one of the houses,” Bautista said.

Authorities estimate the value of recovered shabu at around P110 million to P250 million.

The recovered drugs were turned over to Joint Task Group Haribon and will be transferred to the appropriate government agency, Bautista said.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez said the recovered illegal drugs was the biggest haul from the Maute group so far.

During the first and second weeks of the fighting, soldiers also found smaller but numerous packets of shabu from places used by the terrorists.

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