Cotabato City — Authorities successfully dismantled a drug den and arrested five suspects during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on the afternoon of July 18, 2025.
The operation, launched around 5:15 p.m. at an apartment in Rosary Heights 4, was carried out by the PDEA Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Office, with support from the Maguindanao Maritime Police Station, Cotabato City Police Office–CIU, and the Cotabato City Public Safety Office.
Seized during the operation were 20 sealed sachets of suspected shabu weighing approximately 15 grams, buy-bust money, assorted drug paraphernalia, and various identification cards.
PDEA Regional Director Gil Cesario P. Castro identified the arrested individuals as:
- Alias “Jing,” 30, married, a glass installer and alleged drug den maintainer;
- Alias “Bong,” 28, habal-habal driver;
- Alias “Tonton,” 26, construction worker;
- Alias “Clyd,” 28, department store attendant; and
- Alias “Dodong,” 27.
All suspects are now in custody and will be charged with multiple violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. These include:
- Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs),
- Section 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den, with a penalty of life imprisonment),
- Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs),
- Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), and
- Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs).
Authorities reiterated their commitment to intensifying anti-drug operations in the region and urged the public to continue cooperating in the fight against illegal drugs.