THREE persons were arrested, while P433,500 worth of substance believed to be shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) were seized in separate anti-drug operations in Zamboanga City, police said Wednesday, May 15.

Brigadier General Emmanuel Luis Licup, Police Regional Office (PRO)-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested suspects as Abdurajak Hamja, Jonald Timblani, 51, and Jaime Yu, 42.

Licup said Hamja was arrested in a drug bust around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday in Zone 1 in the village of Maasin, Zamboanga City.

Hamja was caught in possession of P500 marked money and some P340,000 worth of substance believed to be shabu packed in two big plastic sachets.

Tiblani was arrested after he sold a sachet of "shabu" in exchange for P500 to an undercover policeman around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, in the village of Canelar, Zamboanga City.

Licup said the arresting team seized from Tiblani's possession P89,000 worth of shabu and P500 marked money.

Yu, meanwhile, was caught in possession of P4,500 worth of "shabu" and P500 marked money when arrested in another drug bust around 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, in the village Putik, Zamboanga City.

Licup said the suspects were detained pending the filing of cases against them for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (SunStar Philippines)