Barmm lawmen arrest construction workers, dismantle drug den

LAWMEN have arrested four construction workers as they dismantled a drug den in an anti-drug operation in Cotabato City, an official said Friday, June 6, 2025.

Gil Cesario Castro, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-Barmm) director, identified the arrested suspects as alias Abdul, 29, the drug den maintainer; alias Erano, 26; alias Raminie, 18; and alias Rino, 25.

Castro said the suspects were arrested in a buy-bust around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5, in Rosary Heights 10 village, Cotabato City.

Seized during the buy-bust from the dismantled drug den were five grams of shabu packed in 14 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets worth P34,000, buy-bust money, assorted illegal drugs paraphernalia, and a cellular phone.

He said the arrested suspects will be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

He said the anti-drug operation was launched by PDEA agents in Maguindanao with the support of different police units, and Cotabato City Public Safety Office.

He said the dismantling of the drug den is part of PDEA-Barmm s sustained efforts to eradicate illegal drugs and ensure a safer, drug-free community through focused law enforcement and inter-agency collaboration. (SunStar Zamboanga)