TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — A police operation in Taguig City led to the arrest of five alleged high-value drug suspects and the seizure of around 160 grams of suspected shabu reportedly valued at more than ₱1.08 million, authorities said Tuesday, August 18.
The operation was carried out by the Taguig City Police and Southern Police District (SPD) at Villa Street in Barangay Central Bicutan, where authorities said they dismantled an alleged drug den.
According to the Taguig police report cited by Bombo Radyo, the five arrested suspects were identified only by their aliases as “Jemai,” 34; “Mohaimen,” 37; “Moonderf John,” 32; “Mark Anthony,” 41; and “Erwin,” 60, who police identified as the alleged maintainer of the drug den.
Police said the suspected shabu was recovered during a buy-bust operation. Authorities also reportedly recovered the marked buy-bust money, a cellphone and other items allegedly connected to the transaction.
The suspects are expected to face charges under Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, including alleged violations involving the sale and possession of dangerous drugs. The filing of charges, however, does not mean the suspects have been found guilty; they remain entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence.
Part of Intensified Anti-Drug Drive
The latest operation comes amid a series of anti-drug operations involving Taguig police and the Southern Police District.
In April, GMA News reported that Taguig police arrested a high-value drug suspect in Barangay Ususan and seized approximately 50.3 grams of suspected shabu valued at ₱342,040. Police identified the suspect only by the alias “Orlando,” a 30-year-old delivery rider.
The Philippine News Agency (PNA) likewise reported a separate April operation in Taguig in which authorities seized about 500 grams of suspected shabu valued at ₱3.4 million and arrested a 40-year-old tricycle driver in Maharlika Village.
Another report by SunStar Philippines documented the April arrest of the same high-value suspect in Ususan, describing the operation as part of Taguig police and Southern Police District efforts to target higher-level drug personalities.
Earlier in February, GMA News also reported the arrest of two alleged high-value targets in Barangay Santa Ana, Taguig, where authorities seized approximately 150 grams of suspected shabu with a reported standard drug price of ₱1.02 million.
These separate operations indicate that the latest Central Bicutan raid forms part of a broader, continuing law-enforcement campaign against illegal drugs in Taguig. However, they do not independently confirm the specific details of the August 18 operation.
Police: Operations to Continue
Taguig City Police Chief Police Col. Julius Añonuevo said the police will continue their operations against illegal drugs, while also citing the city government’s support for a zero-tolerance approach to illegal drug activity.
For now, the five suspects remain in police custody as authorities proceed with the appropriate legal process.
The seizure of approximately 160 grams of suspected shabu and the arrest of five people could become another significant development in Taguig’s ongoing campaign against illegal drugs—but authorities will still need to establish the allegations in court.
What Remains to Be Confirmed
Authorities have yet to publicly provide additional details on the alleged drug den’s operation, including how long it had reportedly been active, how many customers it allegedly served, and whether the five suspects were connected to a larger drug network.
Those details could determine whether the Central Bicutan operation was an isolated bust—or part of a larger investigation into an alleged drug distribution network in southern Metro Manila.
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