Drug syndicate leader killed, 3 arrested

A SUSPECTED leader of a drug syndicate was killed while three others were arrested in a raid in the island province of Sulu, an official announced Monday.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Director Adzhar Albani said the drug syndicate leader was killed in a shootout around 2:15 a.m. Friday in the village of Godinez, Patikul, Sulu.

Albani identified the slain drug syndicate leader as Sadjari Amiril, alias Salip Amiril, leader of the Amiril Drug Group.

Arrested were Amiril's wife, Isnira, and two other members of the syndicate Ajan Akdam and Dadang Sainuddin.

Albani said PDEA agents backed by policemen armed with warrants of arrest swooped down Godinez village to serve the arrest warrants against Amiril.

He said, however, that the arresting team acting in self defense shot Amiril after they saw the suspect grabbed his caliber .45 pistol and aimed to shoot at the arriving lawmen.

Amiril, after receiving first aid, was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The raiding team recovered from the suspects high-powered firearms, several rounds of ammunition, a grenade and communication gadgets.

The suspects were temporarily detained at the police station in Jolo, the capital town of Sulu, while charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and explosive are set to be filed against them, Albani said.