Authorities said on Friday, May 3, 2023, that during two anti-drug operations in Zambaonga City, P146.5 million worth of illegal drugs and a firearm were seized, leading to the arrest of five drug suspects. In the first anti-drug operation, a street vendor was arrested and approximately P1,020,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized. In the second operation, four suspects were arrested and approximately P145.5 million worth of suspected shabu—the largest drug haul in this city this year—was seized.
ZCPO said Wang was arrested by joint police and military operatives in a buy-bust operation around 11:13 a.m. Thursday, May 2, in Zone 1 village, Zamboanga City. Seized from Wang were some 150 grams of suspected shabu packed in three big-size heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets worth P1,020,000, a belt bag, a bundle of 59 pieces of P1,000 decoy money topped with one genuine P1,000 as marked money.
Wang was put under the custody of Zamboanga City Police Station 11 in preparation for the filing of a case against him, the police said.Maharani Gadaoni-Tosoc, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional director, identified the other four detained suspects as: Abdurahman Abdulhakim, 27Wilson Sahiban, 25; Junjimar Hajili Aiyob, 29; and Jimy Sahibol, 30.
Gadaoni-Tosoc said they were arrested in a buy-bust operation launched by joint operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and PDEA around 6:20 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at Salam Drive, Purok 1 in Mampang village, this city.Gadaoni-Tosoc said seized from the detained suspects were some 21.4 kilos of suspected shabu worth P145.5 million, a caliber .45 pistol with ammunition, 65 bundles of P1,000 boodle money topped with one genuine P1,000 as marked money, illegal drug paraphernalia and other personal belongings.
“This major seizure deals a significant blow to the illegal drug trade network operating within the region, disrupting supply chains and thwarting attempts to distribute narcotics into local communities,” she said.
