JOINT policemen and operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have arrested a drug syndicate member and a high-value target (HVT) drug personality in separate anti-drug operations in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Police Brigadier General Jesus Cambay Jr., Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested suspects as Rene Sumicad, 30, and Reynaldo Laranjo, 41.

Cambay said Sumicad, a member of Tongtong Drug syndicate, was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 5:30 p.m. Monday in Upper Sulitan village, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Recovered from Sumicad were P13,000 worth of shabu and P500 marked money.

Laranjo, listed by the PDEA as HVT, was arrested in another buy-bust operation around 3:30 p.m. Monday in Santo Niño village, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.

Seized from Laranjo were P20,400 worth of shabu and P1,000 marked money.

Cambay said the two were detained while formal charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are set to be filed against them. (SunStar Zamboanga)