Pubdate: Sat, 24 Jul 2004
Source: Sunstar Zamboanga (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 Sunstar Zamboanga.
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2987
Author: Jun Feliciano
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

POLICE HUNT DOWN NOTORIOUS DRUG LORD

Police is tracking down drug lord Gulam Abbas who operated illicit drugs 
trade in Lamitan town.

Abbas also allegedly shot SPO1 Graciano Cuevas with the Basilan Police 
Provincial Office. Cuevas was with the raiding police team that attempted 
to arrest Abbas.

Isabela Basilan Municipal Trial Court (MTC) has issued the warrant of 
arrest for Abbas.

Mayor Roderick Furigay, who is having an all-out anti-illegal drugs 
campaign, has established close coordination with the law enforcers in 
Tuburan to pin down Abbas.

Abbas is reported to be fully armed, and is believed to be in hiding with 
armed elements in the outskirts of Tuburan.

Furigay has embarked on a massive crackdown on illegal drug activities in 
his town early this week to rid of the serious drug menace in his community.

Furigay has also vowed to clamp down on all known drug personalities, 
especially the local drug lords in his town, as he tapped the army's 32nd 
Infantry troops to effectively fight the menace.

Aside from Abbas, Furigay is targeting the other big-time drug suspects 
"until they will be wiped out from the community," a Furigay security 
escort told Sun.Star Zamboanga.

A Lamitan cop who requested anonymity revealed that most of the crimes 
committed in their town are drug-related incidents.

"This is really a big problem in our town ever since. Several violent 
crimes occurring in our place are drugs-related," he admitted.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager