Seven suspects nabbed as police sustain regionwide drug offensive
DAVAO CITY (October 7) — Police in the Davao Region arrested seven suspects and seized ₱3.9 million worth of illegal drugs in a single day of operations from Sunday to Monday, signaling intensified enforcement efforts against narcotics trafficking.
The Police Regional Office–Davao (PRO-11) said the coordinated operations yielded 577.5 grams of shabu and 10 grams of marijuana across nine buy-bust and checkpoint activities in different parts of the region.
“PRO-11 remains firm in its campaign to rid the region of illegal drugs and criminal elements,” said Brig. Gen. Joseph Arguelles, the acting regional director, in a statement Monday.
The latest operations build on a sustained anti-drug campaign that netted over ₱18.6 million worth of drugs and 369 arrests throughout September. That month, police carried out 313 operations, including 212 buy-busts, 40 warrant services, and various checkpoints, resulting in the capture of 76 high-value targets and 293 street-level dealers. One suspect was killed in a police encounter.
Arguelles said the focus on “both high-value and street-level targets” reflects the police’s dual approach — dismantling larger supply networks while disrupting local street distribution.
“These sustained operations demonstrate the unwavering commitment of PRO-11 to pursue drug personalities and stop their illegal activities,” he said.
Context: A consistent enforcement trend
The Davao Region has consistently recorded one of Mindanao’s highest volumes of anti-drug operations, with regional police citing intelligence-driven raids and community cooperation as key factors behind recent gains. Officials said the results also reflect the city’s long-standing anti-drug culture rooted in local government initiatives predating the national campaign.
Police said similar intensified operations will continue in the coming weeks as part of efforts to secure communities and maintain Davao’s reputation for public order.
