Maguindanao del norte: A businessman suspected of illicit drug dealing was quickly arrested after also being found in possession of illegal firearms during a law enforcement operation in Maguindanao del Norte early Tuesday. Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), identified the suspect as alias Anso, 43, a suspected drug personality residing in Barangay Sarmiento, Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.
According to Philippines News Agency, combined police forces from the provincial and regional units carried out the buy-bust operation against the suspect in Barangay Sarmiento at 5 a.m. Ventura stated, "He was quickly arrested when he handed over the illegal stuff to an undercover agent."
Confiscated from the suspect were an M4 rifle with magazines and ammunition, a .45-caliber pistol, suspected shabu with an estimated street value of more than PHP200,000, shabu paraphernalia, mobile phones, and the buy-bust money. The suspect is now detained at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Maguindanao del Norte field office, awaiting the filing of charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
