ILIGAN CITY, Philippines — Police arrested a 49-year-old man identified as a high-value individual (HVI) and seized approximately ₱476,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Saray, Iligan City, on the evening of November 7, 2026.
The operation was conducted at around 6:30 p.m. in Purok 5, Barangay Saray, resulting in the arrest of the suspect identified only by the alias “Bossing,” a 49-year-old mechanic and resident of Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.
Authorities recovered seven plastic sachets containing suspected shabu with an estimated combined weight of approximately 70 grams. Police also confiscated the buy-bust money and other items allegedly connected to the suspected illegal drug transaction.
The operation was led by Team 3 of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU), in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) Iligan, 1005th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10, Iligan City Mobile Force Company (ICMFC), City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) Iligan, and Iligan City Police Station 5.
The police operation was carried out following pre-operation coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Following his arrest, the suspect was placed under the custody of Iligan City Police Station 5 while the confiscated suspected illegal drugs were subjected to laboratory examination to establish their identity and confirm their actual weight and composition.
Police Regional Office 10 Regional Director PBGen Nestor C. Babagay Jr. reiterated the regional police command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations against illegal drugs.
Babagay also called on the public to cooperate with law enforcement authorities, emphasizing the importance of community participation in efforts to prevent illegal drug activities and maintain safer, drug-free communities.
The latest operation adds to the continuing anti-illegal drug enforcement efforts in Northern Mindanao. However, the seized substance remains classified as suspected shabu pending laboratory confirmation, while the arrested individual remains entitled to the presumption of innocence and due process under the law.