CAGAYAN DE ORO (Updated) -- A Lanao del Sur board member, his wife, son and son-in-law were arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation in Iligan City early Wednesday, September 19.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Special Enforcement Service Acting Director Levi Ortiz said together with the police, they raided the house of Lanao del Sur first district Board Member Hussein Magandia around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay Tubod.
He said the raid was conducted after they received information that the Magandia residence is being used as a drug den. A search warrant was issued by a court in Kabacan, Cotabato.
Recovered from the house were a half kilo of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth P3.4 million and an unlicensed firearm.
Arrested were Magandia, his wife Norhainah, son Aktar, and son-in-law Marawi City Councilor Amienqqualid Dimal.
Ortiz said Magandia was not included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of narco-politicians, but he is one of the members of Iwaram drug group that operates in the areas of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.
Magandia's wife, Norhainah, was also tagged as a “drug queen” of Mindanao who also supplies illegal drugs to other regions.
The arrested suspects were brought to PDEA office in Cagayan de Oro for proper disposition. They will face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (Republic Act 9165) and illegal possession of firearms. (With SunStar Cagayan de Oro/SunStar Philippines)