Maguindanao cops arrest 17 drug peddlers

MAGUINDANAO --- Agents arrested 17 large-scale drug traffickers in community-supported operations the past two days in Maguindanao, police said Monday.The first to fall were 15 members of a drug ring, two of them minors, in Parang town in the first district of Maguindanao.They were cornered in a drug den in the town proper of Parang by personnel of the municipal police office, acting on tips from local officials and barangay leaders.Tello said on Monday some of the suspects were caught sniffing methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in their hideout. They operated a drug den from where they distributed shabu to their contacts in the municipality, Tello said.Tello said some of the 15 suspects had contacts in nearby Buldon, Barira and Matanog towns in Maguindanao. We ought to thank the people who helped the Parang municipal police bust this group, Tello said.The operation on Saturday that led to the arrest of the 15 offenders also resulted in the recovery of shabu from their possession, according to Tello.Two more drug peddlers were arrested on Sunday in Barangay Making in Parang by agents from the Parang municipal police.A combined police-Army team also raided on Sunday the hideout of wanted drug dealer Masla Leosen in Datu Piang town in the second district of Maguindanao.Leoson is among top ten most wanted drug traffickers in Datu Piang.Tello said the suspect managed to escape when he sensed that local policemen and soldiers from the Army’s 22ndMechanized Company were approaching his lair from two directions.Leoson left his merchandise in his hideout as he fled in haste, according to Tello. We will not stop from running after him, Tello said.Tello said the 17 suspects now in their custody shall be charged with violation of the Philippine Dangerous Drugs Act.