TWO days after scoring their biggest drug haul in Zambales, law enforcers on Thursday evening, September 9, 2021, seized nearly P1.6 billion worth of illegal drugs, and killed a “top level” drug personality and a cohort in follow-up operations.

Basher Bangon, 59, from Cagayan de Oro City and Danilo Untavar, 51, were killed in a drug bust in Springville Executive 1, Molino 3 in Bacoor at around 7 p.m. of September 9, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) said on Friday, September 10, 2021.

Police said Bangon was a “top level” drug personality who sourced his illegal drugs from a Chinese syndicate for distribution in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Seized from the suspects were around 181 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with an estimated street value of P1.25 billion.

In a follow up operation at around 9:15 p.m. in Barangay Magdalo, Bahayang Pagasa in Imus, DEG operatives arrested Bangon’s alleged cohorts identified as Lani Micoleta, 45, and her husband Aldwin, 47.

Recovered from the couple were 48 kilograms of shabu valued at P331.2 million.

Police said the couple is known to distribute illegal drugs in the National Capital Region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar said the two operations were part of the follow-up drug sting on Tuesday, September 7, in Zambales and Bataan which resulted in the killing of four Chinese nationals and the arrest of three others. (SunStar Philippines)