LAMITAN CITY, Basilan – Authorities arrested one drug suspect and seized over ₱40,000 worth of suspected shabu in a successful buy-bust operation conducted on Wednesday, October 9, in Barangay Malo-ong Canal, Lamitan City.
The joint anti-drug operation was carried out by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Basilan Provincial Office, together with the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, 1403rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14 – Basilan, and the Lamitan City Police Station.
The operation led to the arrest of a 28-year-old suspect known as “Dot-dot”, a resident of the said barangay. Two of his alleged accomplices, identified only as “Man-Man,” 23, and “Kilik,” 40, managed to escape and are now the subjects of a follow-up manhunt.
Seized during the operation were eight heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, weighing approximately six grams and valued at ₱40,800. Authorities also confiscated buy-bust money, various drug paraphernalia, and an identification card.
The suspect will face multiple charges for violating Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, and 15, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PDEA Basilan vowed to intensify its anti-drug operations across the province to dismantle local drug networks and bring to justice those involved in the illegal drug trade.
“The operation is part of our ongoing campaign to keep Basilan communities safe from the harms of illegal drugs,” a PDEA official said.
Authorities are urging the public to continue cooperating by reporting drug-related activities to law enforcement agencies.