GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/06 March) — Police operatives in Region 12 seized nearly P30 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in the last two months in various operations in the area.
Chief Insp. Aldrin Martin Gonzales, Police Regional Office-12 public information officer, said Friday such accomplishment is the biggest so far for the region in terms of the campaign against illegal drugs.
He said they were able to launch three major anti-illegal drug operations during the period that led to the arrest of nine suspected big-time drug pushers.
Gonzales specifically cited the raid in Purok Malipayon, Barangay Ambalgan in Sto. Niño on Feb. 24 that led to the recovery of a total of 2.546 kilograms of shabu, with an estimated market value of P25 million.
The illegal drugs were seized from the residence of couple Johney and Fatima Mantawel, who remained at-large. The recovered shabu comprised nine jumbo packs, five medium packs and three small packs.
The operation was implemented by virtue of search warrant no. 73 issued by Judge Marlo Brasales of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Norala-Tantangan for violation of Section 5, 7, 11 and 12 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
On the same day, joint police operatives also seized some 162.7952 grams of shabu with valued at P1.302 million in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion of Tupi, South Cotabato.
Gonzales said the operation was conducted by joint elements of the Regional Public Safety Battalion-12, Tupi municipal police station and Regional Special Investigation and Detection Team-12, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 12.
Recovered during the operation were three heat-sealed sachets containing shabu and P6,000 in marked money, he said.
The official said the operatives arrested during the operation an alleged big-time drug pusher identified as Yahya Amerol Asum, 20, who was listed as a resident of Sabal Manao in Marawi City.
In early January, the Sto. Niño police men also seized around P1.3 million worth of shabu in a raid in Barangay Ambalgan.
“These recorded accomplishments are in line with the standing directives of the regional office to utilize all means in curtailing the proliferation of illegal drugs in Region 12,” Gonzales said in a statement.
Chief Supt. Lester Camba, Region 12 police director, said these accomplishments were major boost to their intensified anti-criminality campaign in the entire region.
“I expect other police units to conduct similar operations to eventually make Region 12 a drug-free zone,” he said. (MindaNews)