CANTILAN, Surigao del Sur — Authorities dismantled a suspected drug den and arrested three high-value drug personalities during a buy-bust operation conducted Friday afternoon, March 6, in Purok 3, Barangay Magosilom, as part of intensified efforts to curb the spread of illegal drugs in the province.
The anti-drug operation was led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office 13 through its Surigao del Sur Provincial Office, in coordination with the Philippine National Police’s Cantilan Municipal Police Station. Authorities carried out the operation at around 3:26 p.m. following surveillance and monitoring of suspected drug activities in the area.
During the operation, law enforcement agents arrested three individuals identified as high-value targets in the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. However, another suspect who was believed to be involved in the illegal drug operation managed to escape and remains at large. Authorities have launched follow-up operations to track down the fleeing suspect.
Confiscated during the raid were illegal drugs with an estimated street value of ₱59,500. The seized items included one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu used as the subject of sale and two additional sachets containing approximately eight grams of the same illegal substance.
Investigators also recovered three opened plastic sachets with traces of suspected shabu and two folded aluminum foils containing drug residue, indicating the location was actively being used for drug consumption and distribution.
Aside from the illegal drugs, authorities seized several non-drug items believed to be connected to the illegal drug operation. These included the marked buy-bust money, several pieces of drug paraphernalia, three mobile phones suspected to have been used in drug transactions, and a plastic container used to store illegal substances.
Authorities said the location was confirmed to be operating as a drug den where illegal drug use and trade were allegedly being carried out.
The three arrested suspects are currently under the custody of the arresting authorities pending the filing of formal charges. They will face multiple violations under Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The charges include violations of Sections 5 (sale of illegal drugs), 6 (maintenance of a drug den), 7 (employees and visitors of a drug den), 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), 12 (possession of drug paraphernalia), and 15 (use of dangerous drugs).
Authorities reiterated their firm commitment to intensifying anti-drug operations in Surigao del Sur and throughout the Caraga region as part of the government’s broader campaign against illegal narcotics.
Law enforcement officials also urged the public to remain vigilant and to cooperate with authorities by reporting suspected illegal drug activities in their communities, emphasizing that community participation is vital in sustaining the fight against illegal drugs.