JOINT police and military operatives arrested three people and seized P374,000 worth of illegal drugs in Lanao del Sur, the police reported Tuesday, January 4, 2022.
Police Brigadier General Eden Ugale, of Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said the suspects, whose identities were withheld, were arrested Sunday, January 2, in Gadongan village, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
Ugale said the suspects were confronted for not wearing face masks during the checkpoint operation when the troops noticed a pistol tucked in the right waist of the driver, prompting them to conduct further investigation, which resulted in the confiscation of illegal drugs.
Ugale said that seized from the suspects were 55 grams of shabu packed in two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets with P374,000, a caliber .45 pistol with two magazines and seven live ammunition.
He said the suspects were detained while charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against them.
Ugale commended the operatives for the successful operation, "an achievement that demonstrates the law enforcers' commitment and cooperation to fight against illegal drugs."
The arresting team composed of policemen from Marawi City Police Station and troops of the Army's 500th Combat Engineer Battalion. (SunStar Zamboanga)