IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 9 (PDEA RO-9), through its Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Office, dismantled a drug den and seized more than ₱115,000 worth of illegal drugs during a law enforcement operation in Ipil town on January 26, 2026.
The operation was carried out at Purok Caimito, Barangay Sanito, after authorities served Search Warrant No. 311 issued by RTC Branch 24 Presiding Judge Anthony D. Isaw. The search warrant implementation led to the arrest of the individuals found operating the suspected drug den.
Recovered from the operation were 13 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, with an estimated total weight of 17 grams and a standard drug value of ₱115,600. Authorities also confiscated various drug paraphernalia, further strengthening the case against the suspects.
PDEA said the operation was conducted in close coordination with multiple law enforcement units, including the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) of Zamboanga Sibugay, the Ipil Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Naval Security Unit 63, underscoring the inter-agency effort to curb the illegal drug trade in the province.
The arrested suspects are set to face criminal charges for violations of Sections 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), 7 (Employees and Visitors of a Drug Den), 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia) under Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PDEA RO-9 reiterated its commitment to aggressively pursue drug personalities and dismantle drug dens in Zamboanga Sibugay, urging the public to remain vigilant and to continue reporting illegal drug activities in their communities.