P13.6M worth of suspected shabu seized from 4 suspects in Lanao del Sur

COTABATO CITY - Around two kilos of suspected shabu amounting to P13.6 million were seized from four suspects in a joint anti-narcotics operation in Malabang, Lanao Del Sur on Friday afternoon.

Juvenal Azurin, chief of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional office in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said the sting operation took place in Barangay Bago Ingud in Malabang town at 4:30 p.m.

Seized during the buy bust operation were packets of white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu placed inside tea packs with the label "Guanyinwang Refined Chinese Tea".

The four suspects arrested were identified as Charley Talib, 31; Michael Embor Gamuranao, 31; Aldasir Igo Bakundo, 31; and Radal Jadin Naming, 46.

Meanwhile, one minor who was with them was rescued. 

Azurin said the sting operation was conducted after tracing the drug activity from Cavite to Mindanao. Operatives conducted surveillance and monitoring for weeks. It was a joint effort of PDEA BARMM Lanao del Sur Provincial Office with PDEA-4A Cavite, Marine Battalion Landing Team-5, Malabang town police, and Provincial Mobile Force Command of Lanao Del Sur.

Troops also confiscated evidence such as four cellular phones, two brown leather wallets, one black shoulder bag, one Black Rusi motorcycle, identification cards and buy bust money.

The suspects are now detained at the PDEA-BARMM detention cell in Cotabato City and would be facing non-bailable charges under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The minor, on the other hand, will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. —With a report from Merlyn Manos/KG, GMA News