3 'big-time drug pushers' nabbed in Cotabato CityCOTABATO CITY, March 10 (PNA) -- Three alleged big-time drug pushers long wanted by law due to their involvement in illegal
drug trade were arrested by anti-narcotics agents late Thursday afternoon, officials said today.
Bryan Babang, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM), said the anti-drug operation was conducted in Lower Bitara, Barangay Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City after an agent managed to buy several sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" from the suspects.
Babang identified the suspects as Mohaliden Delos Santos Mamarinta, 33, his wife Bots Karim Kirat and Dimaraw Tahir Minalang, 30, all of Barangay Rosary Heights 10. They belonged to the Mamarinta drug syndicate, PDEA said.
Seized from the suspects were 11 sachets of shabu, marked money used in the buy-bust, a disposable lighter, tooter and other shabu paraphernalia.
Follow up operations are still going on to confirm reports that the group is also keeping drug supplies in an undisclosed place in the city.
Babang said the suspects were included in the PDEA-ARMM's drug list.
Now detained at PDEA-ARMM regional office lock-up cell, the three suspects are facing violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Since January this year, more than 20 drug personalities have been arrested by joint PDEA-ARMM and police authorities in 14 separate anti-drug operations in Cotabato City and Maguindanao.
Among those arrested were the suspected Maguindanao "shabu queen," who happened to be a town councilor in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao and another town councilor who was caught with prohibited drugs and unlicensed firearms.
PDEA-ARMM said Kabuntalan Councilor Fatima Baliwan was arrested during an entrapment operation after months of surveillance.
Baliwan denied she was into illegal drugs.
Babang vowed to work closely with the PDEA in Region 12 since drug pushers could criss-cross the provinces of Maguindanao, which is part of ARMM, and Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato, both under PDEA-12.
Recently, residents of Maguindanao were arrested in an entrapment by PDEA-12 operatives in Tacurong City, which also led to the discovery of an illegal drug den.
PDEA agents arrested Norodin Pamasang, 33, and Abubakal Cinente, 25, according to PDEA-12 Director Gil Cesario Castro.
Agents seized 15 sachets of shabu with an estimated street value of PHP35,000.(PNA)
JMC/BS/NYP/EOF
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