ISABELA CITY, BASILAN — Authorities have launched an investigation after two Grade 7 students, aged 12 and 13, were allegedly caught smoking suspected marijuana inside the campus of Basilan National High School (BNHS) on Monday, July 20, raising fresh concerns over the use of online platforms to distribute illegal drugs to minors.
The incident reportedly occurred behind one of the school’s buildings, where the two students were allegedly found smoking what authorities suspect to be marijuana. School officials immediately reported the matter, prompting an investigation by the concerned authorities.
According to initial information, the minors claimed they had purchased the suspected illegal substance through an online transaction using a method they referred to as a “dead drop” or “death drop.” Under this scheme, the buyer and seller allegedly do not meet in person. Instead, the illegal item is left at a predetermined location where the buyer later retrieves it, making the transaction more difficult to trace.
Authorities are currently verifying the students’ statements and are expected to subject the confiscated substance to laboratory examination to determine whether it is indeed marijuana. Investigators are likewise tracing the source of the suspected illegal drug and identifying the individuals behind the alleged online transaction.
The incident has heightened concerns among law enforcement agencies and education officials over the growing use of digital platforms and anonymous delivery methods in the illegal drug trade, particularly those that may target minors.
Authorities stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that all available leads are being pursued to identify and hold accountable those responsible for supplying prohibited substances to children.
Parents and guardians have also been urged to closely monitor their children’s online activities and educate them about the dangers of illegal drugs and suspicious online transactions. Schools, meanwhile, have been encouraged to strengthen campus monitoring and continue working closely with law enforcement agencies to prevent similar incidents.
Authorities also appealed to the public to report any information that could help dismantle illegal drug networks operating through online platforms.
As the investigation continues, officials reiterated that safeguarding children from illegal drugs requires the collective efforts of families, schools, communities, and law enforcement agencies. No further details have been released pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.