Google map of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato
COTABATO CITY – Joint anti-narcotic operatives, military and police personnel seized illegal drugs during separate raids on Wednesday in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato but failed to net the two principal targets of the operation.
Director Naravy Duquiatan of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen), who led the 5 a.m. operation, said that drug suspects Abdulsalam Maraguiar and Antolin Akmad, both of Barangay Buricain, managed to elude arrest.
The suspects are allegedly involved in big-time drug peddling in North Cotabato.
“The PDEA team, along with elements from Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion and Pigcawayan police force, swooped down the houses of the suspects in Barangay Buricain but they were long gone,” Duquiatan said in a statement.
Seized from the house of Maraguiar during the search operation was one big packet of shabu with a street value of PHP43,044, while confiscated at the residence of Akmad were four medium sachets of shabu with an estimated value of PHP171,000.
Cases for violation of Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against the suspects who remain at large. (PNA)
