COTABATO CITY — A joint anti-illegal drugs operation led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency resulted in the arrest of a suspected drug den maintainer and three cohorts and the dismantling of a drug den in Barangay Digal, Buluan, on January 22, 2026.
The buy-bust operation was spearheaded by the PDEA Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Office, with support from the PDEA Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Office, PDEA Regional Intelligence Section, Regional Special Enforcement Team, and Land Transportation and Interdiction Unit. Also participating were the PDEU MDS/4th Platoon of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, the 21st Mechanized Company of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion, the 3rd Maneuver Platoon of the 2nd PMFC PPO, and the Buluan Municipal Police Station.
During the operation, authorities confiscated ten heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu with an estimated total weight of six grams and a standard drug value of ₱40,800. Also recovered were a mobile phone, marked buy-bust money, assorted drug paraphernalia, and an identification card.
The alleged drug den maintainer was identified as alias “Rex,” 43. His cohorts were identified as alias “Talib,” 31; alias “Kongking,” 32; and alias “Ogie,” 25. All suspects are residents of Barangay Digal, Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur.
The suspects are now under the custody of the PDEA BARMM Jail Facility and are facing inquest proceedings for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, authorities said.
Law enforcement officials emphasized that the successful operation reflects sustained inter-agency coordination aimed at dismantling drug dens and curbing the illegal drug trade in Maguindanao del Sur and neighboring areas.