CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Northern Mindanao police operatives arrested two suspected drug personalities and seized approximately P857,480 worth of suspected shabu in separate buy-bust operations in Cagayan de Oro City and Lanao del Norte on Monday.

Police Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay, regional police director, said the operations resulted in the arrest of a suspected high-value individual (HVI) and a street-level individual (SLI).

At about 5:42 p.m., personnel of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) and City Mobile Force Company (CMFC) of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO), in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 10, arrested alias “Orok,” 34, a resident of Cagayan de Oro City, during a buy-bust operation at Villa Ernesto in Barangay Gusa.

Police seized 10 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu. The sachets weighed approximately 110 grams and had an estimated standard drug price (SDP) of P748,000.

Also recovered were a pouch, an Android cellphone, and the P500 bill used as buy-bust money.

Initial investigation showed that Orok was allegedly involved in illegal drug activities as a part-time source of income while working as a mason. Police said he was a second-time offender.

In a separate operation at about 10:28 p.m. the same day, personnel of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (PDEU-LDNPPO), along with the Police Intelligence Unit (PIU-LDNPPO), PDEA Region 10’s Iligan-Lanao del Norte Provincial Office, and the Linamon Municipal Police Station, arrested alias “Dodong/Isok,” 32, in Purok 8, Barangay Samburon, Linamon, Lanao del Norte.

Four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu were confiscated from the suspect. The sachets weighed approximately 16.10 grams and had an estimated SDP of P109,480.

Police also recovered a cigarette case and the P500 bill used as buy-bust money.

The two suspects are under the custody of their respective police stations for documentation and proper disposition.

Police said cases for violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared for filing against the suspects.

The confiscated drug items were brought to the Regional Forensic Unit 10 for qualitative and quantitative examination.

Babagay said the operations were part of the Philippine National Police’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs and its efforts to pursue individuals involved in the illicit drug trade.

“Our directive is absolute: illegal drugs have no place in Northern Mindanao. We are intensifying intelligence-driven enforcement, strengthening inter-agency collaboration, and aggressively targeting the networks behind the illicit drug trade. PRO10 will maintain an uncompromising stance to protect our communities and hold every drug perpetrator accountable under the law,” he said.