TAYTAY, Rizal — Anti-narcotics operatives seized about six kilograms of suspected shabu worth P40.8 million and arrested three men during a pre-dawn buy-bust operation in Barangay San Juan here on Monday.

Joint operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office IV-A, Philippine Coast Guard-Rizal and Philippine National Police Regional Intelligence Unit 4A conducted the operation at Sitio Dulong Bangiad around 5:30 a.m.

PDEA identified the arrested suspects by their aliases “Diogen,” 32; “Muhammad,” 31; and “Eddienel,” 43. A fourth suspect, alias “Abdila,” escaped and remains at large.

Authorities also recovered an M1 carbine, an M16 rifle, four .45-caliber pistols, assorted magazines, a digital weighing scale, a smartphone and the buy-bust money.

PDEA director general Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez said investigators are pursuing other individuals believed to be linked to the illegal drug operation.

“Our objective is to identify the people behind these transactions who keep the illegal drug trade moving,” Nerez said.

The suspects face charges for sale of dangerous drugs and conspiracy to sell under Sections 5 and 26 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.