Lanao Del Sur, Philippines – October 27, 2024
A well-coordinated law enforcement operation led to the arrest of two suspected drug dealers in Barangay Lumbac Kialdan, Marantao, on October 26, 2024. The operation, which began around 5:40 PM, was carried out by a joint team consisting of personnel from the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), Provincial Special Operations Group (PSOG), 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), 1403rd and 1402nd Regional Mobile Force Companies (RMFC), and Marantao Municipal Police Station (MPS).
The operation resulted in the capture of two individuals known by the aliases “Madam Taba” and “Ali,” both of whom are local residents. The suspects were found in possession of three heat-sealed sachets containing an estimated 26 grams of a crystalline substance believed to be shabu, with an estimated street value of PHP 176,800. In addition to the illegal drugs, authorities also seized a genuine five-hundred-peso bill used in the buy-bust transaction, a black weighing scale, a transparent plastic container, and two identification cards.
Following the arrests, a physical inventory of the confiscated evidence was conducted on-site in the presence of the suspects, along with a media representative and a Barangay official as insulating witnesses. The suspects were informed of their constitutional rights in a language familiar to them.
The suspects and the seized evidence were subsequently transferred to Marantao MPS for further documentation. Authorities are preparing to file appropriate charges against the suspects in accordance with Philippine drug laws.
Lanao del Sur Provincial Director, Police Colonel Robert S. Daculan, commended the teamwork and diligence of the operating units, highlighting the successful operation as a step forward in the province’s ongoing fight against illegal drug activities.
