More than P1-million worth of suspected shabu allegedly imported from Southeast Asian countries were seized from a member of the Moro National Liberation Front and his uncle during a buy-bust operation in Quezon City Friday.
Police Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, director of the National Capital Police Region Office, and Police Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., chief of the Quezon City Police District, identified the suspects as Bismar Sabtula Nadduha, 25, and his uncle Jinsir Abduhaddi Jhol, 40.
According to Eleazar, the operation stemmed from a previous drug bust conducted by operatives of the QCPD Station 8 (Project 4) Drug Enforcement Unit last May 8 that led to the arrest of Nemia Castillo and Marites dela Cruz.
During investigation, the two women pointed to Nadduha and Jhol as their source of illegal drugs, police said.
This prompted personnel of QCPD Station 8 SDEU to set a drug sting against the two men in their rented apartment on Sta. Catalina St., Barangay Holy Spirit, around 7 p.m.
An undercover police transacted with the duo and purchased P50,000 worth of shabu. After the deal, responding officers immediately collared the suspects who yielded about 150 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P1.2 million.
Further investigation showed that Jhol was arrested in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City last 2003 for a drug-related case and was jailed for at least 11 years.
Jhol said he really does not want to be involved in the illegal drugs trade again but was forced to do so out of poverty.
Nadduha said he joined MNLF in 2018 and was just staying in Quezon City for barely two months now after moving from their province.
Eleazar said the illegal drugs allegedly came from Southeast Asian countries through an “illegal backdoor channel,” according to the suspects.
The suspects also identified a certain source who they bared to be responsible for the shipment of the contraband from Zamboanga to Metro Manila.
Their source is now subject of investigation and manhunt of the police with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The suspects are now under police custody and were charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (Alexandria Dennise San Juan)