Marawi City: A notorious drug suspect was arrested and PHP3.4 million worth of shabu was seized during a buy-bust operation in Marawi City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) said Thursday. In a statement, PDEA-BARMM Director Gil Cesario Castro said the operation, conducted with police support, took place in Barangay Matampay on Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the operation aligns with the ongoing efforts of PDEA-BARMM and the local government unit to dismantle drug networks in the area. The suspect, identified as 'Angko,' 35, a resident of Barangay Kanyugan Papandayan, was arrested after intensive surveillance and intelligence gathering. Authorities said he had been running a widespread illegal drug trade in Marawi City and nearby towns in Lanao del Sur.

Confiscated from the suspect were five transparent plastic sachets containing 500 grams of shabu, buy-bust money, and a motorcycle. The operation in Marawi followed a separate raid in Lamitan City, Basilan, where PDEA-BARMM agents dismantled a drug den and arrested six suspects, including the alleged operator.