2 suspects arrested, P3.4-M shabu seized in Cotabato City drug bust

INQUIRER FILES

COTABATO CITY – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) kicked-off its 2025 anti-drug operations with the confiscation of P3.4 million worth of shabu and the arrest of two drug suspects on Wednesday.

PDEA-BARMMDirector Gil Cesario Castro said the buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion 5 was carried out by personnel from the Cotabato City police, the Police Regional Special Enforcement Unit and Philippine Marines.

The two arrested high-value targets were identified only as “Alias Theng” and his wife “Alias Saima,” both residents of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte.

Seized from them were 500 grams of shabu, mobile phones, the marked money and various identification cards.

Castro said the duo had been monitored to be operating their illegal business in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, including Cotabato City.

Now detained at PDEA-BARMM detention facility, the couple is facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.