AN ALLEGED big-time drug suspect was arrested and some P5.3 million cocaine was seized in an anti-drug operation by joint marines, police, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) team in the province of Tawi-Tawi, officials announced Saturday, October 30, 2021.
Major General Alfredo Rosario, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the arrested suspect as Basir Daud 49, a resident of Sitio Pundohan Tapis in Sipangkot village, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.
Rosario said Daud was arrested in a law enforcement operation by joint 12th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-12), police and PDEA operatives Friday, October 29, in Sitio Pundohan Tapis, Sipangkot village, Sitangkai.
Police Captain Alberto Bartolome, Sitangkai police chief, said recovered from Daud were a kilogram of suspected cocaine worth P5.3 million, illegal drug paraphernalia, an M-16 Armalite rifle and ammunition.
Bartolome said the operation against Daud was launched following a series of surveillance on the illegal drug activities of the suspect.
“We continue to collaborate with other law enforcement agencies to effectively execute the operations against the wrongdoers and prevent them from inflicting havoc in the peaceful communities,” said Colonel Romeo Racadio, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi commander.
The arrested suspect and confiscated evidence were brought to Sitangkai Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition.
“We remain steadfast in performing our duty as a force multiplier in the anti-illegal drug campaign of the government. Rest assured that we will continue to pursue our mission and brave every obstacle for our future generations,” Rosario said. (SunStar Zamboanga)