MANILA, Philippines — Anti-narcotics operatives seized half a kilo of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, with a street value of P3.4 million, from an alleged member of a Mindanao-based drug syndicate in Pasay City on Sunday.
Madato Piang Buisan was arrested in a sting along Seaside Boulevard at around 2:50 p.m. by operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) offices in Regions 1, 4-A, 4-B, 5 and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Buisan is said to be a high-ranking member of the Amiril drug group, known for the mass transport of illegal drugs, the PDEA reported.
According to earlier reports, Buisan – a resident of Talitay town in Maguindanao – was the subject of search warrants that resulted in the arrest of his wife Arbaya Esrael Buisan in March last year.
PDEA said it would file a charge of drug trading against Buisan.
In northern Metro Manila, eight alleged pushers, four of whom are included in the drug watchlist, were arrested in three separate stings in Valenzuela and Navotas since Sunday night.
Listed pusher David Mallari and alleged users Isabelita Mallorca and Rakkie Peñol were arrested with three sachets of suspected shabu in Barangay Marulas, Valenzuela at around midnight yesterday.
In Mapulang Lupa, Valenzuela, construction worker Jayson Dantes, a listed pusher, was arrested with three sachets of shabu Sunday night.
At Market 3 in Barangay Northbay Boulevard North, Navotas, listed pushers Eduardo Rosal and Robinson Medina and two others, Dixie Baron and Rossel Magos were arrested before dawn yesterday. Police recovered a total of seven sachets of shabu from the suspects. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab