2 Iligan City village execs yield P14M worth of shabu

MANILA, Philippines - Two village officials were arrested in Iligan City after anti-narcotics traced the delivery of P14 million worth illegal drugs to them, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Thursday.

PDEA operatives nabbed consignees of the package Taha Abdullah, 42; and wife, Anisah, also 42, residents of Orchids Homes, Santiago Street, Iligan City.

The couple received the package containing approximately two kilograms of shabu, according to PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac Jr.
 
"Taha and Anisah are the incumbent barangay councilor and barangay treasurer, respectively of Barangay Batuan, Balabagan, Lanao del Sur," Cacdac said.

He said that the two suspected drug couriers were also arrested during the operation conducted by elements of PDEA RO10 in coordination with PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region, last June 3.

"The seized illegal drug, weighing approximately two kilograms in two big transparent plastic cellophanes, was hidden inside a speaker box and placed inside a package," he added.

Prior to the operation, an intelligence report was received by PDEA RO10 that a parcel containing shabu is due for delivery using a courier service from Letre, Malabon City.

Operatives of PDEA RO10 immediately coordinated with the courier company and conducted a controlled delivery operation on the alleged shabu package to be picked up from the courier company’s branch at the Gaisano Mall in the city.

The package was declared as a speaker box and was opened by the suspects in the presence of media representatives, elected public officials, Department of Justice representatives and PDEA operatives.

Also confiscated from the couple inside their Mitsubishi Montero were two more plastic sachets of shabu weighing more or less 10 grams worth P80,000.

The drugs seized from the couple were brought to PDEA RO10 Laboratory Service for forensic examination, while the suspects were detained at PDEA RO10 jail facility.

A case for violation of Section 5 (Delivery of Dangerous Drugs) under Article II, of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed in court against the suspects.