COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A suspected drug trafficker was killed in a sting that resulted in the seizure of shabu with an estimated street value of P320,000 in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi yesterday.
Umda Abain Karimuddin died at the scene after he allegedly engaged anti-narcotics agents in a shootout in Barangay Mandulan.
Aside from the drugs, authorities said they recovered from the suspect a rifle and grenades.
Meanwhile, in Pampanga, police arrested three drug couriers and seized marijuana with an estimated street value of P5 million in Barangay Dau.
Lianna Jess Maigne dela Cruz, 18; Jerthec Cris Lusung, 19, and Filmar Lipasano, 44, were about to pick up sacks of bananas at a bus station when they were arrested, according to Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, Central Luzon police director.
The bus driver and conductor told police they discovered the marijuana bricks after some bananas spilled from the sacks.