DRUG BUST. Two drug suspects (4th and 5th from left) are arrested in Zamboanga City on Friday night (Jan. 24, 2025). In total, Zamboanga Peninsula authorities arrested three high-value targets over the weekend, seizing PHP23.1 million worth of illegal drugs. (PDEG photo)
MindanaoToday.com | 3 nabbed, P23-M shabu seized in Zamboanga Peninsula
By: Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities arrested three high-value targets (HVTs) and seized PHP23.1 million worth of illegal drugs in separate anti-drug operations across the Zamboanga Peninsula, police said Saturday.
The Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group-Special Operations Unit 9 (PDEG-SOU-9) identified the suspects as alias Darwin, 42, a driver; Sahil, 42, a fisher; and alias Amil, 40, a truck operator.
Darwin, a resident of Barangay Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga City, was arrested around 12:20 p.m. Saturday in a buy-bust conducted by the PDEG and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at the corner of Rizal and Osmeña Streets in Barangay Central, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.
Confiscated from Darwin, a subject of extensive surveillance, were three kilograms of suspected shabu valued at PHP20.4 million, a car, a mobile phone, buy-bust money, and a bag.
“The successful seizure highlights the ongoing efforts of PDEA-Zamboanga Peninsula and PDEG-9 to dismantle drug networks and target high-value individuals involved in the illegal drug trade,” PDEG said in a statement.
In another operation, Sahil, a resident of Barangay Parol, Tongkil, Sulu, and Amil, a resident of Governor Camins Avenue, Zamboanga City, were arrested at 7:30 p.m. Friday along Zaragoza Street, Barangay Zone 4, about 400 meters from the city hall.
Recovered from Sahil and Amil were 400 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP2.7 million and packed in eight heat-sealed plastic sachets, along with a mobile phone, a coin purse, buy-bust and boodle money, and other drug paraphernalia.
The suspects are in police custody and face cases for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
It was the third major drug bust in Zamboanga City this year.
On Jan. 8, alias Esmon was arrested in Barangay Baliwasan with 250 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP1.7 million. (PNA)
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