3 SHABU SUPPLIERS FALL IN ILOCOS

Camp Diego Silang, La Union - Three suppliers of metamphetamine
hydrochloride or more popularly known as shabu were collared in a
dragnet by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
in Region 1 this week.

The three, who were believed to have direct links with big-time shabu
syndicates in the country, were identifed as Esmael Maguid Abedin, 36,
a resident of Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City; Salic Mamalilis Uba,
20, of Commonwealth, Quezon City; and Homer Abener Avila, 27, of
Mangaldan, Pangasinan.

The three were nabbed with 245.32 grams of shabu amounting to P588,768
in separate operations in San Fabian town in Pangasinan and San
Fernando City in La Union.

The suspects, PDEA said, were tailed for months in relation to their
delivery of large amounts of shabu to buyers in Region 1.

PDEA agents said Abedin and Uba admitted the illegal substances they
are delivering to buyers in the Ilocos region come from a Chinese
national in Manila whose identity is still being withheld by
authorities. Meanwhile, Avila was reportedly a former member of the
dreaded Pangasinan-based Punzal drug syndicate.

PDEA La Union provincial chief Senior Inspector Reynaldo Lizardo bared
that the information about the activities of Abedin and Uba was tipped
off by a civilian volunteer who overheard from a street pusher that
Abedin would be delivering 150 grams of shabu.

The suspects are now facing violations of Republic Act 9165 or
Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.