P16-M dried marijuana seized in Isabela sting

BY LIEZLE IÑIGO BASA

QUEZON, Isabela – Police seized 130 kilograms of dried marijuana bricks worth P16 million from two high-value drug personalities during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Abut here Saturday.

Police Lt. Col. Andree Abella, Police Regional Office 2 (PRO 2) spokesperson, identified the suspects as Anwar Sindatoc, 54, driver, of Las Piñas City, and Elson Cabunyag, 43, of Port Area, Manila.

The suspects were arrested by Isabela police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives at 10 p.m.

A poseur-buyer arranged the purchase of two bricks of marijuana from the suspects for P31,000. However, the suspects fled on board their vehicle when they sensed that they were dealing with authorities.

Authorities chased the suspects who were cornered by police manning a quarantine checkpoint.

Recovered from the suspects were boxes and sacks containing marijuana bricks wrapped in a transparent packing tape, one .45-caliber pistol, a Colt Mark 4 with serial No. 837816 with one magazine loaded with seven live ammunition, 10 live ammunition for M14, two plastic sachets containing three grams of suspected shabu valued at P20,400, assorted identification cards, two cellphones, and the P31,000 boodle money.

Abella said that the source of the marijuana could be Kalinga which is near this town.