From Cotabato streets to wider operations: How BARMM’s anti‑drug campaign is pushing back against illegal narcotics

COTABATO CITY  (January 9) — The recent dismantling of a drug den and arrest of four suspects in Barangay Rosary Heights 11, Cotabato City underscores an ongoing effort by authorities to curb illegal drugs in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The operation reflects broader patterns of enforcement as regional agents work to dismantle dens, intercept drugs, and arrest suspects linked to the narcotics trade.

Local busts highlight persistent street‑level distribution

Several high‑profile operations this year show the sustained anti‑drug push in BARMM:

• In the latest bust in Cotabato City, four suspects were arrested and heat‑sealed sachets of suspected shabu seized during a buy‑bust that led to the closure of a local drug den.
• In March 2025, PDEA‑BARMM agents arrested five suspects and seized illegal drugs worth around ₱102,000 during a raid on a drug den in Purok Ulandangan 2, Cotabato City. SunStar Publishing Inc.
• In April 2025, another operation in Bagua Mother village, Cotabato City, resulted in the arrest of three drug personalities, including two on the regional target list, and the dismantling of a drug den. SunStar Publishing Inc.
• In August 2025, six drug den operators were rounded up during an entrapment operation in Barangay Poblacion 2, Cotabato City. Philstar.com
• A late‑2024 operation in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, saw four suspects arrested and roughly ₱170,000 worth of illegal drugs seized. SunStar Publishing Inc.

These results show repeated action against dens and dealers in urban neighborhoods, even as authorities also pursue wider trafficking networks.

BARMM counter‑drug statistics: arrests and seizures

While national figures provide a macro perspective on the “war on drugs,” local BARMM data reveal the scale of enforcement within the region itself:

Regional seizures and arrests (BARMM):

• In 2024, PDEA‑BARMM seized approximately ₱18.3 million worth of shabu from January through mid‑February alone, resulting in the arrest of about a dozen suspects in intensified buy‑bust operations across Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, and Cotabato City. Philippine News Agency
• Authorities in Jolo, Sulu destroyed over ₱38 million worth of illegal drugs seized in BARMM operations in late 2024, signaling progress not only in arresting suspects but in removing contraband from circulation. Philippine News Agency
• In August 2024, PDEA‑BARMM also confiscated nearly ₱14 million worth of suspected shabu and nabbed multiple suspects in separate operations within BARMM and nearby Davao areas. GMA Network

Beyond these seizures, enforcement has broader reach through police collaborations: according to the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro, PRO‑BAR reported 5,264 anti‑drug operations involving both PNP and PDEA efforts, resulting in the apprehension of approximately 2,500 drug suspects and the confiscation of substantial illegal substances (including shabu and marijuana) with an estimated value of over ₱303 million since mid‑2022. Philippine Information Agency

Wider context: national anti‑drug campaign

While BARMM constitutes a part of the national enforcement picture, broader Philippine data underscore the scale of the challenge:

• Nationwide, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reported that from July 2022 to August 2025, about 120,787 anti‑drug operations led to the arrest of 162,597 drug suspects and the dismantling of 1,582 drug dens across the country. Philippine News Agency
• Over the first half of 2025 alone, PDEA and partner agencies conducted close to 19,765 anti‑drug operations nationwide, resulting in the arrest of 26,051 individuals and seizures exceeding ₱30 billion in illegal drugs — including thousands of kilos of crystal meth and other substances. The Chronicle

These figures show that while BARMM is not isolated from national trends, its enforcement dynamics are shaped by local geography, community engagement, and inter‑agency cooperation.

Impact on communities and enforcement challenges

Officials stress that community cooperation — including tips from residents and barangay watchdogs — is crucial to locating hidden dens and interrupting street‑level distribution. At the same time, narcotics networks adapt by moving operations into residential areas or remote barangays, creating enforcement hurdles.

Bringing suspects to trial also requires robust evidence, prosecutor coordination, and sustained judicial follow‑through — factors that can slow the translation of arrests into convictions.

Despite these challenges, PDEA‑BARMM and its partner agencies continue to conduct regular operations, combining intelligence, police cooperation, and community partnerships to reduce the availability of illegal drugs and enhance public safety across the Bangsamoro region.