COTABATO CITY (PNA) – The Maguindanao police, acting on a tip from concerned citizens, arrested a woman carrying P500,000 worth of prohibited drugs Thursday, police said.
Senior Insp. Reggie Abellera, police chief of Datu Anggal Midtimbang town in Maguindanao, identified Friday the woman as Meriam Talusan, 35, a resident of Datu Anggal. Her accomplice, identified as Tarhata Alon, 30, was also arrested after a follow up operation.
Abellera said police seized 150 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride that Talusan inserted in an adult diaper that she used.
“During implementation of Oplan Double Barrel, we noticed she had difficulty walking and appeared to be uneasy,” Abellera told reporters. Suspecting she must be carrying shabu as the informant had told him, Abellera ordered a policewoman to inspect her.
Three huge packs of shabu were found inserted in her diaper.
Abellera, who admitted receiving a tip from a resident of Talitay about the woman, said Talusan was on board a tricycle from Barangay Talitay, Maguindanao when it was flagged down at a police checkpoint in Barangay Adaon, Datu Anggal.
In Talusan’s mobile phone were text messages about the impending delivery of prohibited drugs.
So the police communicated with a Tarhata Alon, 30, who was waiting for Talusan in Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao. A follow-up operation led to Alon’s arrest.
Talusan admitted to police investigators she was to deliver the shabu to Alon, an act she had been doing as source of income.
“I only serve as courier for money, I am jobless,” Talusan told reporters.
The two women have been charged for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.