P100-K shabu in buy-bust

COTABATO CITY -- Antinarcotics agents on Monday nabbed a high-value target (HVT) in Pikit, North Cotabato and confiscated from him some PHP100,000 worth of shabu.

Neil Liansing, head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–North Cotabato, identified the

arrested HVT as Abu Mamalangkay Matalam, of Sitio Midkampong, Barangay Batulawan, Pikit.

Armed with a search warrant issued by a local court, the PDEA agents backed by Pikit police personnel swooped down on the house of the suspect around 5 a.m. and caught him flat-footed, Liansing said.

“The suspect initially resisted but was pacified by her wife,” Liansing said in a statement.

Seized from the house of Matalam were some 100 pieces of small packets of suspected shabu in heat-sealed plastics with an estimated street value of PHP97,500; suspected drug money amounting to PHP14,860; an M1 Carbine rifle, and ammunition.

Liansing said Matalam has long been under surveillance by their office and they were able to establish that the latter has been selling illegal drugs in Pikit and the nearby municipalities.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) are being readied against the suspect.