DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao – Anti-narcotics agents arrested on Wednesday afternoon two “big-time” drug peddlers here, who yielded PHP1-million worth of illegal drugs, during a drug buy-bust operation at the town’s public market.
Juvenal Azurin, regional director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM), said the 5 p.m. buy-bust operation at Dalican Public Market led to the arrest of Datunot Abdul Manunggal, fish vendor, of Cotabato City; and Odin Amba Talipasan, 49, a chainsaw operator from Barangay Dalican.
“The two belonged to a bigger illegal drug syndicate operating in Maguindanao and Cotabato City, they were included on our high-value target list,” Azurin told reporters here Thursday.
Azurin said they initially encountered difficulties in cornering both suspects, who frequently peddled illegal drugs in Maguindanao and Cotabato City. He said the PDEA-ARMM hatched the buy-bust plan with the help of the local police and military personnel.
Seized from them were three huge packs of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) with an estimated street value of PHP1 million, a .45-caliber pistol with ammunition, a motorbike and the marked money (bogus PHP1,000 peso bills) used in the operation.
Azurin said the two did not resist arrest but were visibly surprised they were dealing with a PDEA agent and other law enforcers inside the populated public market.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms) are being prepared against the suspects, who are now detained at the PDEA-ARMM custodial facility in Cotabato City. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
