ILIGAN CITY – Authorities seized two kilograms of suspected shabu worth ₱13.6 million and arrested a high-value drug target during a joint buy-bust operation at a fast-food chain’s parking lot in Barangay Tubod, Iligan City, on Sunday afternoon, August 24, 2025.
The suspect, identified only by his alias “Salik”, 28, married, and a resident of Barangay Bangulo, Marawi City, was arrested by combined operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Special Enforcement Team (RSET) Region 9, with support from the PDEA Lanao del Norte Provincial Office, PDEA Misamis Oriental AIU, Iligan City Police Station 4, and the PNP City Mobile Force Company.
Seized from Salik were two tea bags labeled “Guanyinwang” containing vacuum-sealed packs of crystalline substance believed to be shabu weighing around 2,000 grams; ₱2.5 million boodle money used as buy-bust cash (bundled to resemble real currency with a genuine ₱1,000 bill on top); along with a brown paper bag and a white paper bag marked “PENSHOPPE.”
Salik’s companion, known by the alias “Jan”, managed to escape during the operation and is now the subject of a hot pursuit. Later that afternoon, authorities searched his residence in Barangay Bagong Silang, Iligan City, where they recovered about five grams of suspected shabu left in plain view, but the suspect remained at large.
According to PDEA-9 Director Bryan Babang, the operation was carried out following intelligence reports from informants who confirmed the suspects’ large-scale drug distribution activities in Iligan City and Lanao del Sur.
Salik is currently detained and will face charges for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.