POLICE operatives have arrested two alleged firearms suppliers of the Abu Sayyaf and seized five high-powered firearms, as well as millions of pesos worth of smuggled cigarettes in a raid in Zamboanga City.

Police Brigadier General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested Abu Sayyaf firearms suppliers as Asidol Susukan Ahalul and Julhari Sahara alias Brando.

They were nabbed by policemen led by Police Colonel Rexmel Reyes, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director.

Ylagan said the policemen, armed with a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10591, otherwise known as Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regular Act, swooped down the rented house of the suspects around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 15, in Santa Barbara village, Zamboanga City.

Seized from the two suspects were five M4 Carbine rifles.

Reyes said the application of search warrant was made possible through case build-up against the arrested suspects, who were monitored providing armaments and logistical supports to the Abu Sayyaf in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

Ylagan said the members of the raiding team have also confiscated several boxes of assorted smuggled cigarettes, which are estimated to be worth millions of pesos. The cigarettes were found in the compound of the suspects' rented house. (SunStar Zamboanga)