PDEA-ARMM agents nab student with P2.5-M shabu in Maguindanao

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao – Anti-narcotics agents arrested Wednesday afternoon a criminology student during anti-drug operations that led to the confiscation of more than P2.5 million worth of illegal drugs.Director Juvenal Azurin of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM), identified the suspect as Raffy Osama, 22, a resident of Barangay Bagua, Cotabato City.Azurin said Osama was arrested after he handed over a sachet of shabu to a PDEA agent who acted as buyer at 1:30 p.m. in Barangay Upper Capiton, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. He was our high value target, we have placed him under surveillance for two months, Azurin said of Osama who was driving a multi-cab vehicle at the time of his arrest.Osama did not disembark from the vehicle when he handed over the stuff to the buyer. PDEA agents on board a van waited nearby and quickly arrested Osama as he handed over the illegal stuff.In his sling bag, the PDEA operatives backed by local police recovered about 500 grams of shabu in 10 sachets, estimated to be P2.5 million, and the marked money. He did not resist arrest. Image may contain 1 person sand//scontent.fcgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/24177042_1944975742195500_1501077787164506016_n.jpg?oh=fcbd02ab11a1acaf2798fb12234f5a81andampoe=5A9932AB He was in PDEA-ARMM watch list, he is a high value target, Azurin said, adding that follow-up operations continue to identify the persons he worked with.The arrest of Osama came two days after PDEA agents nabbed an alleged member of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and two others in anti-drug operation in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato.Nabbed in Barangay Poblacion, Pigcawayan were 47-year-old Mohammad Tuankali Macalimpas and his companions, Samsodin Kato, 30, and Noraida Samaon Alamada, 20. Macalimpas.Seized from them were a hand gun, shabu worth more than P2.5-million and paraphernalia. They had just attended the Bangsamoro General Assembly Monday in nearby Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao.Charges for violations of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared against Osama, now detained at PDEA-ARMM lock up cell in Cotabato City.