ILIGAN CITY – Authorities intensified their anti-criminality campaign in Iligan City following a series of successful operations that led to the arrest of multiple suspects, the confiscation of illegal drugs worth more than P238,000, and the recovery of stolen electronic equipment.
On March 26, 2026, operatives from the City Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a buy-bust operation along Quezon Avenue in Barangay Poblacion, resulting in the arrest of a suspect identified only as alias “Ricky.” The suspect was caught after selling a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover operative.
Further search of his possession yielded two additional large packets of suspected shabu, with an estimated total weight of 15 grams and a street value of P102,000. He is currently under temporary detention at Police Station 5 and is facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
In a separate case on the same day, another suspect identified as alias “Ramil” was arrested in connection with a theft incident involving three laptops stolen from a store in Barangay Mahayahay.
According to Barangay Captain Joel Labandero, the suspect was positively identified through CCTV footage. Ramil later admitted to the crime, leading authorities to recover two of the stolen laptops from his residence and another from a repair shop in Barangay Poblacion.
Authorities also revealed that the suspect had allegedly taken cash and jewelry during the incident. During his arrest, five sachets of suspected shabu were also found in his possession, adding drug-related charges to the case.
The shop owner expressed relief over the recovery of the laptops, noting their importance to both the business and a student dependent on the equipment. The victim also vowed to pursue legal action against the suspect to prevent further offenses.
Meanwhile, on March 27, 2026, agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) carried out another buy-bust operation in Purok 1A, Barangay Del Carmen, leading to the arrest of a female suspect identified as alias “Nicole.”
The suspect sold a sachet of suspected shabu worth P15,000 to an undercover agent. Subsequent search operations led to the recovery of three large and two medium-sized packets of suspected shabu, with a combined estimated weight of 20 grams and a street value of P136,000.
Nicole was brought to the PDEA Regional Office in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental for drug testing before being returned to Iligan City for inquest proceedings.
Authorities emphasized that these coordinated operations highlight the government’s sustained crackdown on illegal drugs and criminal activities in Northern Mindanao, while urging the public to remain vigilant and cooperative in reporting suspicious activities within their communities.