Major Drug Bust in Maguindanao del Norte
In a significant blow to the illegal drug trade, law enforcement authorities successfully apprehended a high-value target and confiscated a substantial cache of illegal drugs and firearms during an early morning operation on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
The operation took place in the quiet village of Sarmiento, located in the municipality of Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.
Operation Details and Arrest
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 Ambi, 43 years old.
The arrest was the result of a meticulously planned buy-bust operation conducted in the early hours of Tuesday. PDEA operatives spearheaded the mission with crucial support from various police units stationed within Maguindanao del Norte.
Contraband Seized
The items recovered from the suspect underscore the severity of his alleged operations. The seized evidence includes:
- Approximately 30 grams of a substance believed to be shabu, with an estimated street value of PHP 204,000.
- The illegal drugs were contained within two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets.
- An M4 rifle and a caliber .45 pistol.
- Various ammunition and assorted drug paraphernalia.
- Two cellular phones and other personal items.
The discovery of high-powered firearms alongside a significant quantity of shabu highlights the dangerous nexus between the illegal drug trade and armed violence in the region.
Legal Consequences for the Suspect
Director Recites confirmed that the suspect, Ambi, will face a series of serious charges for his alleged crimes. The charges are based on violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, specifically Sections 5 (sale of illegal drugs), 11 (possession), and 12 (possession of paraphernalia).
Additionally, he will be charged under the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act for the illegal possession of the recovered firearms. This successful operation demonstrates the continued and coordinated efforts of Philippine law enforcement agencies to combat the scourge of illegal drugs and maintain public safety.
