BALO-I, Lanao del Norte — A joint anti-illegal drug operation led to the arrest of a suspected street-level drug personality and the confiscation of approximately ₱176,732 worth of suspected shabu in Barangay Maria Cristina, Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, on the night of October 10, 2026.
The operation was conducted at around 10:58 p.m. at Purok 8, Barangay Maria Cristina, by personnel of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), and Balo-i Municipal Police Station (MPS) under the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (LDN PPO), in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 10 (PDEA RO 10), Iligan-Lanao del Norte.
Authorities identified the arrested suspect only by the alias “Boni,” a 35-year-old married resident of Purok 1, Barangay Maria Cristina, Balo-i. Police classified the suspect as a street-level individual (SLI) allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.
During the operation, law enforcement personnel confiscated seven heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu. The seized substances had an estimated combined weight of 25.99 grams and a standard drug price (SDP) value of ₱176,732.
Authorities also recovered a small black pouch and a ₱500 bill used as buy-bust money during the operation.
The operation was conducted under PDEA Pre-Operation No. 11-00-10102026-050, reflecting coordination between the police units and the anti-drug agency in carrying out the law enforcement activity.
Following the arrest, the confiscated suspected illegal drugs were turned over to the Iligan City Forensic Unit for qualitative and quantitative examinations to determine their composition and confirm the substance’s identity and quantity.
The suspect remains in the custody of the Balo-i Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition.
Authorities are preparing charges for alleged violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Section 5 covers the illegal sale, trading, administration, dispensing, delivery, distribution, and transportation of dangerous drugs, while Section 11 penalizes the illegal possession of dangerous drugs.
The filing of the appropriate charges will proceed in accordance with the results of the investigation and applicable legal procedures.
PCOL Leo De Leon Sua, provincial director of the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office, commended the operating personnel and partner agencies for their coordinated efforts and continued commitment to the campaign against illegal drugs.
“This successful operation reflects our intensified campaign against illegal drugs and the strong coordination among our police units and partner agencies. We will continue to strengthen our intelligence-driven operations to apprehend those involved in illegal drug activities and protect our communities from the harmful effects of dangerous drugs,” Sua said.
The police provincial office reiterated its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations and strengthening inter-agency cooperation to identify and apprehend individuals allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.
Authorities have yet to disclose further details regarding the suspect’s alleged drug activities as the case undergoes the necessary investigation and legal processes.