Authorities have arrested five drug suspects and confiscated more than PHP1.7 million worth of shabu in separate operations in Lanao del Sur on Sunday, officials reported on Monday.
In one operation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM), supported by provincial police, apprehended four individuals during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Manila Group, Wao.
PDEA-BARMM Director Gil Cesario Castro stated that the team seized 19 sachets of suspected shabu valued at over PHP18,000, along with buy-bust money, drug paraphernalia, mobile phones, and a .22-caliber revolver with ammunition.
The arrested suspects were identified by their aliases: “Boyet,” 54, the alleged drug den maintainer, and his clients “Obet,” 51; “Jepoy,” 30; and “Roger,” 44. Charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition) have been filed against them.
“We remain firm in eliminating drugs in BARMM, including Lanao del Sur,” Castro emphasized in a statement.
In a separate incident on the same day, police arrested a 44-year-old trader for selling prohibited drugs to an undercover police agent in Marawi City. Col. Caezar Cabuhat, Lanao del Sur police provincial director, identified the suspect only as “Manap,” a high-value target from Tamparan town.
“He was under surveillance for over two weeks before his arrest on Sunday,” Cabuhat reported. The entrapment operation took place in Barangay Patani, Marawi City, where police confiscated over PHP1.7 million worth of suspected shabu.
