Staff Writer
Four individuals, among them a carpenter, were apprehended while over P14 million worth of illicit substances were confiscated in distinct anti-drug crackdowns in Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur provinces, as per authorities on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) named Ibnorasa Sarapuddin, 24, Raden Dammang, 21, Kausar Tapsi, 56, and Norwin Gimang, 45, as the detainees.
Maharani Gadaoni-Tosoc, the PDEA-Zamboanga Peninsula director, mentioned that Sarapuddin and Dammang were apprehended in a sting operation at 1:20 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10, in Poblacion village, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Gadaoni-Tosoc disclosed that Sarapuddin and Dammang were found with a kilogram of suspected shabu valued at P6.8 million, stacks of marked money used for the operation, a mobile phone, IDs, receipts, a wallet, a sling bag, and other items.
She revealed that Tapsi was taken into custody in a separate sting operation at 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9, in Purok Masigla in Poblacion village, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Seized from Tapsi were a kilogram of suspected shabu worth P6.8 million, bundles of marked money, a mobile phone, watches, bracelets, earrings, a brooch, wallets, a sling bag, IDs, several receipts, and P1,122.50 in cash.
Gadaoni-Tosoc noted that Gimang, a carpenter, was also apprehended in a sting operation at 3:10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9, in Purok 2 in Guitran village, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.
Gimang was apprehended after selling around 50 grams of suspected shabu worth P340,000 to an undercover PDEA agent posing as a buyer of illegal substances.
Additionally, authorities seized another 20 grams of suspected shabu valued at P136,000, bundles of marked money topped with a genuine P1,000 bill used for the operation, a mobile phone, an eyeglass case, a motorcycle, and P6,520 in cash from Gimang’s possession.
Gadaoni-Tosoc mentioned that the detained individuals will face charges for violating Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
She added that the separate anti-drug operations were carried out with assistance from the police and military units in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay provinces.
