Marawi City trader eludes drug raid

Only 15 grams of suspected shabu were seized from a Muslim trader after he ran away with more illegal drug placed in his bag during a raid conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on his house in barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City Monday night.

Hadji Camal, a native of Marawi City, managed to escape through a small door of his room.

PDEA regional director Amado Marquez said that the subject has been placed under surveillance for two weeks. During a test buy last June 20, authorities were able to buy a gram of shabu from Camal using a P2,000 marked money.

Marquez said that Regional Trial Court Branch 56 judge Marilyn Yap issued a search warrant against the suspect after the PDEA was able to get a photo between the police asset and the suspect during the test buy.

Marquez said there was a heavy downpour during the raid, making the suspect difficult to chase. He said that about P10,000 was scattered along the street when they chased Camal.

Although Camal escaped, PDEA operatives still managed to confiscate over 15 grams of shabu, packing materials and some drug paraphernalia from the suspect's house.