THE police arrested nine people, including two businessmen and a top drug personality, and seized some P400,000 worth of suspected shabu in separate anti-drug operations in Zamboanga City on Saturday.

Police Brigadier General Emmanuel Luis Licup, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, said those arrested were Mohammad Ali Cabrera, 43; Allan Perez, 40, businessman listed as Top 10 drug watch List; Francis Perez, 31; Renen Rivero, 29, businessman; Joel Torres, 29; Elbon Ledesma, 31, fish dealer; Jessie Seville, 27; Maulujer Abbuh, 31; and, Arturo Sarcino.

Cabrera was caught in possession of some P200,000 worth of suspected shabu packed in 18 plastic sachets and P300 marked money when arrested in a buy bust operation around 3:45 p.m. Saturday at Sitio Asinan in the village of Kasanyangan, Zamboanga City.

Licup said that some P1,500 worth of suspected shabu packed in four plastic sachets and P300 marked money were recovered from Abbuh who was arrested in a buy bust operation 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Chinese public cemetery in the village of San Roque.

Sarcino was arrested around 11 p.m., Saturday at Posadas Drive in the village of Tugbungan.

He yielded some P2,000 worth of suspected shabu packed in four plastic sachets and P200 marked money.

Licup said the Perezes (Allan and Francis) and Rivero were arrested around 11:50 p.m. at the junction Cabato and Tumaga Road in the village of Tumaga.

Confiscated from them were some P180,000 worth of suspected shabu packed in 10 heat-sealed plastic sachets and P1,000 marked money.

Ledesma and Seville were found in possession of some P4,000 worth of suspected shabu packed in eight plastic sachets and P200 marked money when arrested around 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Sibigtol Drive in the village of Arena Blanco.

Torres was caught in possession of some P1,000 worth of suspected shabu packed in two plastic sachets and P500 marked during his arrest around 11:45 p.m. Saturday in the village of Sta. Maria.

Licup said the suspects were detained while charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is set to be filed against them. (SunStar Philippines)