OPERATIVES of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have arrested two high-value targets (HVTs) and seized P1.7 million worth of illegal drugs in a concerted anti-drug operation in Cotabato City, an official said Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
Gil Cesario Castro, director of PDEA in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm), identified the arrested two HVTs through their aliases as Jomer, 31, and Abubakar, 31.
Castro said the two HVT suspects were arrested in a buy-bust on Monday, July 21, at ND Avenue, Poblacion 4 village, Cotabato City.
Seized from the two suspects were 250 grams of shabu packed in five heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets worth P1.7 million, buy-bust money, one mobile phone, two wallets, and identification cards.
He said the suspects were detained and will be charged with violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
He said the anti-drug operation was led by the PDEA Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Office with the support of other PDEA units, and different police units in Cotabato City. (SunStar Zamboanga)