Cotabato City – In a successful buy-bust operation, drug enforcement officers from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Basilan Provincial Office, along with members of the 18th Infantry Battalion, the Philippine Army, Lamitan City Police Station, and other law enforcement units, dismantled a drug den in Purok Fidel, Barangay Malinis, Lamitan City, Basilan on September 16, 2024.
The operation led to the arrest of the drug den’s maintainer, Jerry De Leon Macahilos, also known as “Jerry” or “Lilong,” along with his cohorts, Ritchie Mojad Reyes, alias “Nomer,” and Marjonie Ali Isa, alias “Adong.”
Authorities confiscated six heat-sealed plastic sachets containing approximately 5 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, with an estimated street value of ₱34,000. Also recovered were the buy-bust money, various drug paraphernalia, and identification cards.
PDEA Director Gil Cesario P. Castro commended the efforts of the operating units and expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the local government of Lamitan City. He highlighted that the dismantling of the drug den significantly contributes to ongoing efforts to maintain the drug-cleared status of the barangay.
The arrested suspects are currently detained at the Lamitan City Police Station and are awaiting inquest proceedings for violations of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
