Cotabato City drug pushers nabbed in Isulan, P320,000 stuff seized

ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat -- Two persons were arrested while more than Php320,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) during anti-illegal drug operation here Friday, police said.Arrested were John Ampuan, 22 and Ali Tahir, 49, both of Cotabato City who were carrying a huge amount of shabu during buy bust operation in Isulan, according to Supt. Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, the Sultan Kudarat police director in a radio interview.Supiter said police operatives in Isulan received a tip from an unidentified informant about the shipment of prohibited drugs from Cotabato City and Maguindanao.Supiter said a bus operation was immediately carried out where a police poseur buyer managed to secure the illegal stuff from Ampuan in front of a roadside restaurant in Baranagy Kalawag 2 in Isulan town.A huge pack of shabu, with estimated market value of Php325,000 was seized from the two suspects who did not resist arrest.The arrest of two suspects came after the police, backed by 7th Marine Battalion Landing team operatives in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat arrested three persons and seized more than Php100,000 worth of shabu, high powered guns and ammunition.A Moro rebel leader and two of his men were arrested but a certain Tinti Taup, another leader of armed lawless elements escaped.The group of Taup, according to Supiter, yielded guns, a cal. 60 machine gun, radio sets and several sachets of shabu.He identified the arrested suspect in Kalamansig raid as Silongan Matingan alias Kamsa Mantingan, his son Nuwal and Ali Kasan who were facing charges of pushing illegal drugs in previous police operations.The group was behind the series of highway robbery, extortion and sea piracy preying on fishermen and fish traders.The suspects are now detained at Kalamansig police lock-up cell and due for transfer to Sultan Kudarat provincial jail.