Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat — Three individuals were arrested and an estimated ₱170,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized during a buy-bust operation conducted by authorities on April 18, 2025, at Purok Rambutan, Barangay Magsaysay.
The joint anti-drug operation was carried out by personnel from the Esperanza Municipal Police Station, the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Sultan Kudarat Police Provincial Office, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The suspects, identified only by their aliases as “Gina,” 45, tagged as a Street Level Individual (SLI); “Dindo,” 25; and “Mayto,” 19 — all residents of Talitay, Maguindanao del Norte — were apprehended after authorities recovered four sachets of suspected shabu weighing a total of 25 grams. The seized illegal drugs have an estimated street value of ₱170,000.
Also confiscated from the suspects were a keypad-type cellular phone, assorted identification cards, and ₱1,000 in marked money used during the operation.
The suspects and the confiscated items were brought to the Esperanza Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and legal procedures.
In a statement, Police Brigadier General Arnold P. Ardiente, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 12, reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to stamping out illegal drugs in the region.
“PRO 12 remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicate illegal drugs from our communities. We will not only intensify our operations but also ensure that those involved in the drug trade are held accountable and face the full force of the law,” Ardiente said.
Authorities continue to strengthen anti-drug efforts across the region in line with the government’s ongoing crackdown on illegal narcotics.