FIVE drug personalities were arrested, while P13.6 million worth of shabu were seized in an anti-drug operation Sunday, October 27, in Zamboanga City.

Lawyer Jacquelyn De Guzman, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) acting regional director, said the suspects were nabbed in a drug bust conducted around 10:40 a.m. near a fast-food chain outlet in the village of San Jose Gusu.

De Guzman said the operation was launched following days of surveillance on the illegal drug activity of the suspects, who were identified as Jumdatol Mohamod, 51, and Julim Salapuddin, of Jolo, Sulu; Warid palahudin, 62, of Panamao, Sulu; and Yacub Alih, 39, and Pae Kamsa, 39, of Sitio Pasay, San Roque village, Zamboanga City.

Seized from the suspects were two kilos of substance believed to be shabu worth P13.6 million, two paper bags, one black cellophane wrapped with brown packaging tape, 32 bundles of boodle money topped with one genuine P1,000 bill used as buy-bust money, five cellular phones, and one public utility jeep.

De Guzman said cases for violation of Section 26 in relation to Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspects.

She said the suspects were temporarily detained at the PDEA regional headquarters in Zamboanga City. (SunStar Zamboanga)