Five individuals were apprehended and a total of around P408,000 worth of illegal drugs were confiscated during separate anti-drug operations in Zamboanga Peninsula and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), according to authorities.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Zamboanga Peninsula specified that four of the arrested suspects included Girlie May Pasaforte, 36, who was identified as a keeper of a drug den, along with Ayang Amping, 20, Bryanjay Anastacio, 23, and Jay-R Guevarra, 22, who were visitors to the drug den.
Maharani Gadaoni-Tosoc, the director of PDEA in Zamboanga Peninsula, mentioned that the four suspects were apprehended during a collaborative buy-bust operation conducted by PDEA and the police, leading to the dismantling of a drug den in Purok 8, Sitio Barigon, Tugbungan village, Zamboanga City, around 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30.
Gadaoni-Tosoc reported that the search of the dismantled drug den yielded approximately 10 grams of suspected shabu valued at around P68,000, two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu residues, P500 in marked money, a cigarette box, and various illegal drug paraphernalia.
She further stated that charges related to violations of specific sections of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be brought against the suspects.
The Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) identified the fifth arrested suspect simply as alias Urak, 22, who is classified as a high-value individual (HVI) involved in drug-related activities.
Police Brigadier General Prexy Tanggawohn, the acting director of PRO-BAR, announced that Urak was apprehended in a buy-bust operation in Kilikili West, Wao, Lanao del Sur on Monday, July 29.
Tanggawohn disclosed that the confiscated items from Urak included approximately 50 grams of suspected shabu contained in a medium-sized transparent plastic sachet valued at around P340,000, a bundle of boodle money topped with genuine P1,000 marked money, and a Sport Utility Vehicle.
