P5.2M worth of shabu seized in Iligan City

MANILA, Philippines - Anti-narcotics agents seized around P5.2-million worth suspected shabu shipped through a known courier service to Iligan City and arrested its consignee, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said on Friday.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the suspect Asliah Sambitory, 23, of Bubong Masurot, Bubong, Lanao del Sur.

She was arrested by operatives of PDEA Regional Office 10 after claiming the package from a branch of a prominent courier service in Gaisano Mall, Iligan City, Cacdac said.

Reports said PDEA operatives, in coordination with the Aviation Security Group National Capital Region, received information that illegal drugs concealed inside an A-One speaker box package from a certain Alex Dimacaling of Orani, Bataan , would be picked up by Sambitory.

The package with tracking number was declared as a speaker box, reports said.

On  Apr. 8, around 4 p.m., anti-narcotics agents immediately coordinated with the authorities of the courier company and conducted a controlled delivery operation on the alleged package containing suspected shabu.

The package was opened by the suspect in the presence of media representatives, elected public official and the operatives.

Inside the package were a big piece of plastic cellophane concealed inside an A-One speaker box containing suspected shabu weighing approximately 750 grams with an estimated market value of P5.2 million, a postal identification card bearing Sambitory's name, and a Commission on Elections identification card with the name Arnisah Daud of Bubong Masurot, Bubong, Lanao del Sur.

Seized piece of drug evidence was brought to the laboratory for analysis, while Sambitory is now temporarily detained at the PDEA RO10  detention facility.

Cases for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared for filing against Sambitory.