Major Drug Bust in Lanao del Sur
In a significant blow to the illegal drug trade in Mindanao, combined law enforcement units successfully apprehended a regional target-listed drug personality and seized a substantial amount of shabu in Lanao del Sur. The operation, which took place over the weekend, highlights the ongoing efforts to combat drug proliferation in the Bangsamoro region.
Operation Details and Arrest
The arrest was carried out during a meticulously planned buy-bust operation on Saturday, November 22. The operation was conducted in Purok 1, Kilikili village, Wao, Lanao del Sur. According to Benjamin Recites III, the director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM), the suspect was identified only by the alias Allan, 41 years old.
Recites confirmed that the suspect is a known figure on their regional target list, making his capture a priority for the agency. The collaborative effort involved operatives from PDEA-BARMM, who were supported by personnel from the Wao Municipal Police Station and the 1st Police Mobile Force Company of Lanao del Sur.
Contraband Seized and Charges Filed
During the arrest, authorities confiscated clear evidence of the suspect's illegal activities. The seized items included:
- 15 grams of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride)
- The drugs were packed in three heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets
- The total estimated street value of the confiscated shabu is P102,000
- The buy-bust money used in the undercover operation was also recovered
Following the operation, the suspect was immediately placed under the custody of the PDEA-BARMM Jail Facility. The PDEA has announced that alias Allan will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
This successful law enforcement operation demonstrates the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in the fight against dangerous drugs in the Philippines. The removal of a regional target from the streets is expected to disrupt local drug distribution networks in the area.
