'Drug trader' gets life term

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Thursday, February 9, 2012

A BIG TIME illegal drug trader was sentenced to life imprisonment Thursday, less than three months after he was apprehended outside a mall in Cagayan de Oro.

Cagayan de Oro City Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 25 Judge Arthur L. Abundiente ordered Sammy Muhammad Yusop to serve life imprisonment and pay a fine of P500,000 without subsidiary imprisonment in case of non-payment of fine.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. Sammy Muhammad Yusop (left) is being escorted by an agent of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology towards the vehicle that would bring him back to the Lumbia City Jail after Thursday’s promulgation at the Hall of Justice. (Joey P. Nacalaban)

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Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Northern Mindanao arrested Yusop last November 21, 2011 while he was about to load a package he claimed from a courier company that contained almost two kilos of shabu worth P20 million inside his Toyota Hi-Ace van parked outside the mall.

The illegal drug was taped inside the picture tube of television set sent to Yusop through the courier company.

Investigation showed that Yusop is believed to be a member of a drug syndicate operating in Mindanao.

In a 24-page decision, Judge Abundiente said Yusop violated Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

He said the prosecution proved that Yusop owned the 1.5 kilos of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

The court also ordered that the vehicle used by Yusop in transporting the illegal drugs, which was earlier confiscated by PDEA agents, would be disposed of in accordance with law while the 1.5 kilos of illegal drugs will be destroyed in the manner prescribed by law.

PDEA Regional Director Roberto S. Opeña told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that the conviction of Yusop is a major accomplishment for the narcotics agency in the government’s fight against illegal drugs.

“We hope to see more drug-related convictions in the coming months,” Opeña said.

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on February 10, 2012.