by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer
Authorities reported on Thursday that three individuals, including a police officer and a member of the Philippine Coast Guard, were arrested and PHP13.6 million worth of shabu was confiscated in an anti-drug operation.
Col. Romeo Espero Jr., the deputy regional director for operations at the Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9), named the suspects as Staff Sergeant Siddih Aliuddin Jr., 44; Seaman First Class Mohammad Abbas, 30; and Mardie, who is both Aliuddin’s wife and Abbas’ sister.
“It took several days to persuade them to complete the transaction as they were hard to reach,” Espero stated in a local radio interview.
The arrests occurred during a buy-bust operation carried out by the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit at around 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday along the highway in Zone 6, Barangay Boalan.
Aliuddin is part of the Regional Headquarters Service Unit of PRO-9, while Abbas is stationed at the Coast Guard Station in Isabela City, Basilan.
The authorities seized two kilos of shabu, fake cash, and a vehicle from the suspects.
Police believe the group obtained the illegal drugs from Tawi-Tawi. This operation represents the largest drug seizure in Zamboanga City and the Zamboanga Peninsula this month.
