'Master key' leads cops to motorcycle thieves

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines --  A hand-crafted “master key”  led cops to suspects in the theft of motorcycles.

Supt. Reinante Delos Santos, chief of the Midsayap municipal police, said they have taken custody of Wingmie Sallam Afdal, a notorious leader of a gang engaged in motorcycle theft and large-scale drug trafficking.

Members of the Midsayap municipal police nabbed Afdal in his hideout past 8 p.m. Thursday, while he, disguised as a mechanic, was disassembling four motorcycles that were earlier reported as stolen.

Afdal first tried to mislead the policemen about his identity, but eventually confessed when they found a key in his trouser pocket that could be used to start the engines of the three of four motorcycles found in his hideout.

“We tested the `master key’ on all of the four motorcycles and, with it, able to start the engines of the three motorcycles. After testing the key, he admitted to his being the person we were looking for,” Delos Santos said.

Delos Santos said Afdal is also wanted for drug trafficking in Midsayap and surrounding towns.

“He and his followers operate as a team. They steal motorcycles and also sell drugs when they are not busy stealing motorcycles,” Delos Santos said.

Afdal yielded a fragmentation grenade and shabu to the policemen that raided his lair.

Delos Santos said they will file separate criminal cases against Afdal for his involvement in motorcycle theft, and  drug trafficking.

"We will also charge him separately with illegal possession of explosives," Delos Santos said.