FIVE persons were arrested, while P34,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized in a series of anti-drug operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula, the police reported Monday, June 21.

Police Major Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the arrested suspects as Daniel Laplana also known as Melgazar Laplana, 28; Adzmir Hassan, 36; Alfraizer Maharail, 29; Jay-ar Lawama, 33; and Bashair Jamahali, 30.

Chang said Laplana was arrested by the Zamboanga City Police Office's (ZCPO) Station 5 operatives in a law enforcement operation around 5 a.m. Monday in Zone 5 in Zambowood village, Zamboanga City.

Chang said recovered from Laplana were 2.9 grams of shabu packed in 12 heat-sealed plastic sachets worth P20,000.

Chang said Hassan, Maharail, and Lawama were arrested by operatives of the ZCPO's Station 11 in an anti-illegal drug operation around 10 p.m. Sunday in Baliwasan, Zamboanga City.

She said they yielded 1.47 grams of shabu worth P10,000, a coin purse, and P300 marked money.

She also said that Jamahali, an employee of an electric cooperative, was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 10:30 a.m. Sunday in Purok 5 in Sitio Singkilon, Baga village, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Confiscated from Jamahali were P4,000 worth of shabu, P500 buy-bust money and personal belongings.

Chang said the suspects were detained while charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against them. (SunStar Zamboanga)