BUSTED. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 10 Director Jigger Montallana presents the illegal substance with an estimated value PHP26 million seized from a lone suspect in Barangay Ma. Cristina, Iligan City on Saturday night (March 12, 2022). Authorities say he is part of a big Mindanao syndicate. (PNA photo by Nef Luczon)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 10 (PDEA-10) foiled the entry of PHP27 million worth of illegal drugs to Northern Mindanao in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Maria Cristina, Iligan City on Saturday night.
PDEA-10 director Jigger Montallana said the suspect, Arnel Asuncion, was caught with the marked money and five plastic wrappers containing the illegal substance that has yet to be determined by the Regional Laboratory Service of what kind and quantity.
"We have been monitoring him for two months now. He was driving alone from Lanao del Sur and our agents negotiated with him in Iligan City with PHP500,000 as downpayment," he said in a media briefing.
Montallana said they believed Asuncion is part of a bigger organization operating in Mindanao.
"This is our objective, that we can capture bulks of illegal drugs in one operation. Once it enters the region, these substances will be repacked into grams and it would take time to trace them altogether," he said. (PNA)
