Staff Writer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) named Ibnorasa Sarapuddin, 24, Raden Dammang, 21, Kausar Tapsi, 56, and Norwin Gimang, 45, as the detainees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n