ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
Philippines security forces raided a suspected drug den in a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group on Wednesday, arresting eight people and seizing illegal drugs and several high-powered firearms.
Authorities said that, during the raid on Basilan island in the country's Muslim south, eight high powered firearms, an M203 rocket launcher, 17 M203 grenades, two rifle grenades, and assorted ammunition were siezed.
The raid also recovered at least 42 plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu (methamphetamine) drug paraphernalia, including three digital weighing scales, and 10 units of cellphones.
Police Senior Superintendent Mario Dapilloza said "The raid was made following the search warrant issued by the local court on the house of the suspects. They were nabbed inside a den."
Basilan is one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and a known stronghold of the al-Qaeda linked Abu Sayyaf group - one of several militant Islamic separatist groups who for almost 30 years have been engaged in an insurgency for an independent province in the country.
The group's chief fundraising offer - Khair Mundos - was arrested June 11 in a Manila suburb, the U.S. State Department listing him as among the “most wanted terrorists" in the world.
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