BUTUAN CITY — September 26, 2026 — Authorities seized an estimated ₱15.3 million worth of suspected shabu during an early-morning buy-bust operation conducted inside a lodging house in Barangay Bancasi, Butuan City, on Saturday, September 26.
The operation was carried out at around 3:14 a.m. inside Beehive Lodge, located at Purok 1, Barangay Bancasi, following an anti-illegal drug operation led by personnel of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 13 (RDEU 13), Regional Intelligence Division 13 (RID 13), Butuan City Police Station 3 (BCPS 3), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 13.
Three individuals were arrested in connection with the operation. They were identified by authorities through their aliases as “Berto,” 48, married, and a resident of Barangay Basilisa, RTR, Agusan del Norte; “Rey,” 32, with a live-in partner, and a resident of Purok 7, Barangay Tolosa, Cabadbaran City; and “Rowena,” 37, single, and a resident of Barangay Doongan, Butuan City.
Authorities identified Rowena as a high-value target (HVT) in the operation.
Recovered during the operation were eight heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, along with two unsealed transparent plastic packs containing suspected shabu that were reportedly in plain view.
Police and anti-drug operatives also recovered several pieces of drug paraphernalia and other non-drug-related items from the area.
The seized suspected illegal drugs had a combined weight of approximately 2,252 grams, or more than 2.2 kilograms.
Based on the authorities’ stated Standard Drug Price (SDP), the seized substance was valued at approximately ₱15,313,600.
The significant seizure represents another major anti-illegal drug operation in the Caraga region, with authorities continuing to target individuals allegedly involved in the distribution of dangerous drugs.
The three arrested suspects are expected to face charges for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, subject to the filing of appropriate complaints and further investigation by authorities.
Authorities have yet to release additional details regarding the alleged source and intended destination of the seized drugs.
The operation underscores the continued law-enforcement effort to disrupt the movement and distribution of illegal drugs in Butuan City and surrounding areas.