COTABATO CITY — A joint anti-drug operation in the early hours of April 12, 2026 led to the dismantling of a suspected drug den and the arrest of three high-value drug personalities in Barangay Poblacion 1, authorities confirmed.
The coordinated buy-bust operation was carried out by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), particularly the Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Office, in partnership with units of the Philippine National Police (PNP), including the Cotabato City Regional Intelligence Unit 15, City Intelligence Unit, City Mobile Force Company, and Police Station 1.
Authorities identified the arrested suspects by their aliases “Nhots,” 56; “Jack,” 49; and “Toten,” 45—all classified as high-value individuals (HVIs) in the illegal drug trade. The suspects were apprehended inside the target area, which authorities described as an active drug den facilitating the distribution and use of illegal substances.
Seized during the operation were 15 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, weighing approximately 25 grams, with an estimated street value of ₱170,000. Also recovered from the scene were assorted drug paraphernalia, marked buy-bust money, a mobile phone, and an identification card believed to be linked to the suspects.
Following their arrest, the suspects were placed under the custody of the PDEA BARMM detention facility. They are set to undergo inquest proceedings for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, which penalizes the possession, sale, and maintenance of drug dens in the country.
Authorities emphasized that the successful operation underscores the strengthened coordination between law enforcement agencies in BARMM in intensifying the campaign against illegal drugs. Officials reiterated their commitment to dismantling drug networks and ensuring safer communities, particularly in urban centers like Cotabato City, where illegal drug activities continue to pose a serious threat to public safety.
Further investigations are underway to identify other individuals possibly connected to the dismantled drug den and to determine the extent of the suspects’ involvement in the local drug trade.