POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato — Joint law enforcement operatives arrested a 44-year-old suspected high-value individual (HVI) and seized approximately ₱404,191.20 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion, Polomolok, South Cotabato, on Thursday night, October 15, 2026.
The operation was conducted at around 9:04 p.m. by personnel of the Polomolok Municipal Police Station (MPS), the South Cotabato Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (SCPDEU), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) South Cotabato.
The arrested suspect, identified in the initial police report by the alias “Andy,” also referred to as “Nekoy” in a separate account, was classified by authorities as a high-value individual. The suspect is reportedly a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Polomolok.
Police recovered four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, with a reported total gross weight of 58.92 grams. Authorities placed the estimated value of the seized substances at ₱404,191.20 based on the National Standard Drug Price (NSDP).
Also recovered during the operation were the ₱500 buy-bust money allegedly used in the transaction, one multicolored checkered pouch bag, and one red-and-black Suzuki Raider 150 FI motorcycle.
The seized suspected illegal drugs will undergo forensic examination at the South Cotabato Provincial Forensic Unit to determine their composition and confirm whether they contain methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu.
The suspect remains under police custody while authorities complete the necessary documentation and prepare the appropriate criminal complaints. The arrested individual and the recovered evidence have been turned over to the proper authorities for further investigation and processing.
The operation forms part of the continuing anti-illegal drug campaign of the South Cotabato Police Provincial Office and its partner law enforcement agencies, which have been intensifying efforts to identify and apprehend individuals allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
Authorities have yet to disclose further details regarding the suspect’s alleged activities or whether the investigation may lead to other individuals connected to the case.
The suspect’s guilt has not been established, and the allegations remain subject to investigation and the judicial process.