SUCCESSIVE ARRESTS. Anti-narcotics agents conduct an inventory of the illegal drugs seized from four drug personalities, including the alleged operator of a drug den in Barangay Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City, on Thursday (April 13, 2023). For the past two weeks, operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao arrested 16 drug suspects and dismantled four drug dens across the region. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY – Sixteen drug suspects were arrested and four drug dens were dismantled by anti-narcotics agents in a string of operations in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) since during the first two weeks of the month.
Christian Frivaldo, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-BARMM) reported Friday that the successive operations also led to the recovery of an estimated PHP400,000 worth of suspected shabu.
The latest anti-drug operation conducted Thursday in Barangay Rosary Heights 10 here resulted in the arrest of four drug personalities and dismantling of a drug den, Frivaldo said.
PDEA-BARMM operatives arrested alleged drug operator Roseller Aba and clients Cominie Sulaiman, Albert Maghanoy Gallego and Mohamad Badal inside the drug den.
They are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“The successful operation was aided by information that emanated from a concerned citizen in the area,” Frivaldo said.
On April 4, PDEA agents also arrested three persons, including Jordan Sinsuat, the second most wanted drug personality in BARMM, during a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.
Anti-narcotics agents also dismantled a drug den in Sitio Pasawilan of the same village.
“The drug den was being utilized by its operator to facilitate his trafficking activities,” Frivaldo said.
On April 3, an alleged drug den maintainer and five others were also arrested during a drug buy-bust in Lanao del Sur province.
On April 1, a drug den was dismantled and four drug personalities were nabbed after a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tapian, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. (PNA)
