PDEA-ARMM agents arrest 2 women in illegal drug activities

COTABATO, Feb. 16 -- Anti-narcotics agents arrested here Wednesday night a suspected drug den operator responsible in selling and pushing prohibited drugs in the city, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) on Thursday said.

Bryan Babang, regional director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-ARMM), identified the suspect who was in the agency's narco-list as Vanessa Coronel Luminda, 49 and resident of Purok Siyete, Mabini Interior, Barangay Bagua 3, Cotabato City.

Babang said agents also arrested Norodin Udao, 38, a suspected drug user who was in Luminda's home during the raid. But her other clients managed to elude arrest.

A witness said Luminda has been trading illegal drugs the past few years, catering to clients from the village and from other areas of the city.

Anti-narcotics agents seized 93 small sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and a list of her clients, majority of whom have already surrendered to police and admit using illegal drugs with the promise to do away with it.

Now detained at PDEA-ARMM detention cell, Luminda is facing charges for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Earlier, PDEA operatives arrested Bai Nengka Ragya Baraguir, 46 years old after a 5 p.m. bust operation in Purok Maligaya, Barangay Poblacion Dos, Cotabato City.

Baraguir's husband who fled is now the subject of manhunt.

Seized from her were several sachets of shabu and marked money worth PHP1,000.

Baraguir, according to police and PDEA sources, is a relative of Fatima Baliwan, leader of Baliwan Drug Group, arrested by PDEA last week.

Baliwan was considered as Maguindanao's "shabu queen." (PNA)
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