P3. 6-M ‘shabu’ seized from alleged Lanao Sur big-time drug peddler

COTABATO CITY — In a span of less than a week, another alleged big-time drug peddler in Lanao del Sur was arrested, yielding P3.6 million worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Taraka town on Thursday, police said.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Christopher Abecia, Director for Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said they arrested Faiz Moin Tampogao, alias Jam, 33, unemployed and a resident of Barangay Dilausan, Maguing, Lanao del Sur, during the buy-bust operation.

He was the third high-value target arrested in Lanao del Sur since Oct. 10.

READ: Cops arrest 2, seize P3.9M in meth in Lanao del Sur

Police and members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-BAR) entrapped Tampogao in Barangay Masolun, Taraka. He did not resist arrest.

Abecia said a poseur-buyer bought the illegal drugs from Tampogao, leading to his immediate arrest.

Police seized from the suspect 10 sachets of suspected shabu valued at P3,629,160.

Authorities also recovered an Android mobile phone, an identification card, and P1,000 in marked buy-bust money placed on top of seven bundles of boodle money.

On Oct. 10, police and PDEA agents nabbed two high-value individuals and seized from them suspected shabu worth P3.9 million also in Lanao del Sur.

Abecia commended the operating units involved in the successful anti-illegal drugs operation.

He encouraged the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting the government’s sustained efforts to combat criminality and illegal drugs in the Bangsamoro region. /coa