Police authorities in Region 12 scored a significant victory in the war against illegal drugs with the arrest of a suspected street-level peddler and the confiscation of narcotics valued at over two hundred thousand pesos.
Operation Leads to Arrest of Student Suspect
In a targeted buy-bust operation on Friday, December 19, 2025, operatives apprehended an individual known only by the alias 'Toto'. The suspect, a 21-year-old student and resident of Poblacion village in T'Boli, South Cotabato, was arrested in Saliao village, located in the municipality of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat.
Significant Drug Haul Confiscated
The operation yielded a substantial haul of illegal substances. According to Police Brigadier General Arnold Ardiente, the director of Police Regional Office-12, authorities seized approximately 30 grams of suspected shabu (methamphetamine). The drugs were packed in six heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets with an estimated street value of P204,000.
In addition to the narcotics, lawmen also recovered several pieces of evidence from the suspect's possession, which included:
- The marked buy-bust money used in the operation.
- One small pouch.
- A cellular phone.
- A motorcycle.
Legal Proceedings Underway
Following the successful operation, the arrested suspect and all confiscated items were transported to the Esperanza Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and disposition. P/BGen. Ardiente confirmed that appropriate charges for violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared for filing against 'Toto'.
This arrest highlights the continued vigilance of police units in Central Mindanao against the proliferation of illegal drugs, particularly at the community level. The seizure of P204,000 worth of shabu is expected to disrupt local distribution networks in the area.
