GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 8 Jan) – Police and anti-drug operatives arrested an alleged big time drug dealer and his cohort in a raid on a residential compound in an outskirt village in nearby Koronadal City on Wednesday morning.
Supt. Nestor Salcedo, acting Koronadal City police chief, identified the suspects as Danny Maidu, 38, and Mark Sumajit, 22, both residents of Purok Maunawain in Barangay San Jose.
He said the two were nabbed in one of the two houses at the compound owned by Maidu, who reportedly operates a drug den in the area.
“He’s (Maidu) considered a big fish and one of the top priorities in our drug watch list,” the official told reporters.
Armed with a search warrant issued by the Koronadal City Regional Trial Court, the raiding team swooped down on the compound early Wednesday morning.
The team was composed of elements from the Koronadal City police station, Police Regional Office 12’s intelligence division and public safety company, Department of Justice, City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 12.
Salcedo said they recovered in one of the houses three open “plastic cellophanes” containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, four heat-sealed transparent sachets of shabu, a digital weighing scale, disposable lighters, aluminum foils, P5,280 in cash, three live bullets of a .38 caliber pistol and several other drug paraphernalia.
He said they could not yet determine the weight and value of the recovered illegal drugs pending an evaluation by the regional police’s crime laboratory.
Dr. Glorio Sandig, CADAC coordinator, said they consider the operation as successful due to the extent of evidence recovered at the scene and the arrest of the two suspects.
He said the two did not put up any resistance when the raiding team arrived in the area and readily signed the inventory sheet after the raid winded down at past 8 a.m.
“This is a major accomplishment for the team since one of the suspects is considered as big time drug dealer,” he said.
The team immediately brought the suspects to the Koronadal City police station for further interrogation and processing of their statements.
Salcedo said they scheduled an inquest for the two late Wednesday afternoon at a local court.
The official said the suspects will initially be charged for possession of illegal drugs and maintenance of a drug den as provided for under Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act.
He said a separate case for illegal possession of ammunition will be filed against them for the recovery of the live bullets.