GOVERNMENT authorities have arrested 11 people, including four alleged members of drug syndicates, and seized illegal drugs, firearms and ammunition in Maguindanao.
Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman Filemon Tan Jr. identified the arrested alleged members of drug syndicates as Aya Balabaran, alias “Commander Biente,” and Normina Abdula Tampugao, both of Kusiong village, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Lamie Mamasabakulod, alias “Commander Lawin,” and Almendras Sanday Mama Jr., both of Tapian, the same town.
Tan said the identities of the other seven arrested suspects were not immediately available except they are suspected drug users arrested together with Mamasabakulod and Mama.
Tan said they were arrested Wednesday, November 30, in a joint law enforcement operation through the service of search warrant issued by the court.
He said the operatives seized from the possessions of Balabaran and Tampugao 266 heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu, three M-16 rifles one of which attached with M-203 grenade launcher, three M14 rifles, four caliber .45 pistols, one improvised pistolized shotgun, two M-79 rifle grenades, assorted magazines and ammunitions.
He said confiscated from Mamasabakulod and Mama were six heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspect shabu, one Browning Automatic Rifle, one M-16 Armalite rifle, one caliber .45 pistol, assorted magazines, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
He said the anti-drug operations were carried out by combined operatives of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and the police of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
Tan said the successful anti-drug operations were made possible through the collective efforts of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, PDEA, and the police in the province.
Tan said they will continue to assist the police and other law enforcement agencies in the intensified conduct of law enforcement operations to prevent the proliferation of illegal drugs in Central Mindanao.