Marawi City, Lanao del Sur — Two suspected high-value drug personalities were arrested on the evening of April 14, 2025, during a successful anti-illegal drug operation conducted by joint law enforcement units in Barangay Dimalna I, within the Mindanao State University (MSU) area of Marawi City.
At around 9:00 PM, operatives from the Marawi City Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office, Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), Provincial Special Operations Group (PSOG), Task Force Marawi, PITLDS-R15 BARMM, and the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company executed a buy-bust operation under valid pre-operational authority.
The coordinated operation led to the arrest of a 38-year-old married woman and a 26-year-old single man, both residents of Barangay Dimalna I. The suspects, reportedly including a target known by the alias “Mala,” were found in possession of approximately 50.83 grams of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of ₱345,644.
Among the seized evidence were multiple sachets of the suspected illegal substance. From the female suspect, police recovered 56 sachets of suspected shabu with individual weights ranging from 4.47 grams to 6.54 grams, while the male suspect was found with 18 sachets weighing a total of 19 grams. Identification cards were also confiscated from both individuals.
A proper on-site inventory of the confiscated items was immediately conducted in the presence of representatives from the Department of Justice and a local barangay official, as mandated by law.
The suspects are now in police custody at the Marawi City Police Station and will face charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Police Brigadier General Romeo J. Macapaz, Regional Director of the Police Regional Office – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR), praised the efforts of the operating teams and underscored the importance of continued vigilance in the fight against illegal drugs.
“This successful operation demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated police work and community cooperation in our shared mission to ensure a drug-free Marawi,” Macapaz said, urging the public to remain alert and report any suspicious activities to authorities.