MARAWI CITY – A couple was arrested Wednesday afternoon and operatives also seized a total of P6.8 Million suspected illegal drugs known as ‘shabu’ during a drug buy-bust operation conducted in this city, a top military official said.
Director Juvenal Azurin, chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) told reporters the buy-bust operation has resulted in the successful arrest of Ating Pundogar, 40; and his wife Norhata, 39, both residents of this city.
“This is a big catch, we busted a big-time syndicate involved in the drug trade,” Azurin told newsmen in an interview.
He also commended the participation of other government agencies who took part in the arrest of the suspects, including the support of the 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.
Investigation disclosed that the couple has been the subject of monitoring in the vicinities of Marawi City and they were being tagged as notorious drug peddlers operating in the BARMM region.
As authorities gathered much evidence to pin down the subject couple, a drug buy-bust was immediately hatched, which resulted to the arrest of the suspects. They reportedly sold a kilo of the suspected drugs known as shabu to an undercover agent along the national highway in Barangay Matampay, this city.
The couple was on board a red Kia vehicle when arrested by the raiding team. The joint government forces seized the vehicle including kilos of illegal drugs in small packs, several stacks of fake money covered on top with a genuine P1000 peso bill, and mobile phones.
The couple is now languishing at the mini cell of the PDEA-BARMM awaiting formal charges in violation of Republic Act 9165 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
