2 men fall in Maguindanao drug raid

MANILA, Philippines - Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested two suspected big-time pushers during a raid in Maguindanao, confiscating  almost  P1 million worth of illegal drugs.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said that at least 200 grams of shabu were confiscated from Sitti Mamadra Minse, 40; and Mohammad Balamula Akmad, 39, both of Sitio Tenorio, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Cacdac said PDEA agents were supposed to serve a search warrant issued by Judge Bansawan Ibrahim, Al Haj, Regional Trial Court Branch 13, Cotabato City against a certain Datu Pons Usman, a target-listed drug personality last September 22.

However, Usman was able to escape when the operatives arrived at his house in Sitio Tenorio and left behind Minse and Akmad.

Seized from Minse were 150 grams of shabu while Akmad yielded 50 grams of the illegal drug.

Authorities also confiscated a digital weighing scale, seven packs of empty sachets believed to be used in repacking shabu and a mobile phone.

Minse and Akmad, detained at tje PDEA RO-ARMM Jail Facility, are now facing charges for violation of Section 11 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, before the Maguindanao Prosecution Office.