COTABATO CITY – In a decisive move against the illegal drug trade, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA BARMM) led a successful buy-bust operation on January 8, 2025, resulting in the arrest of two high-value targets and the confiscation of 500 grams of shabu in Poblacion 5, Cotabato City.
The operation, spearheaded by PDEA BARMM’s Maguindanao Provincial Office with support from the Lanao del Sur Provincial Office, the Regional Special Enforcement Team (RSET), the Maguindanao Maritime Police Station, Cotabato City Police Station 1, Marine Battalion Landing Team 5, and the Cotabato City Public Safety Office, highlights a collaborative effort in combating illegal drugs in the region.
The arrested individuals, identified as Alyas Thing and Alyas Saima, both residents of Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte, are believed to be key players in the illegal drug trade operating in Maguindanao and nearby areas, including Cotabato City.
Authorities seized one self-sealing transparent plastic sachet containing approximately 500 grams of shabu, valued at Php3,400,000.00. Other items recovered during the operation include buy-bust money, two mobile phones, wallets, and identification cards belonging to the suspects.
The suspects are now in the custody of the PDEA BARMM Jail Facility, and cases for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against them.
This operation underscores the PDEA BARMM’s commitment to curbing the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region. The agency reiterated its call for public cooperation in reporting suspicious activities related to illegal drugs, emphasizing that a unified community effort is crucial in the fight against this societal menace.
Further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the suspects’ operations and to identify potential accomplices in their network.
