POLICE operatives have arrested two persons and seized a sniper rifle and an explosive in separate anti-drug operations in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, an official said Wednesday, June 23.

Police Brigadier General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested suspects as Sarira Ashmad, 26; Gilbert Alpa, 32; and Nasser Adjula, 39.

Ylagan said Ashmad was arrested by joint team of police, military and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives in an anti-drug operation around 11:55 a.m. Tuesday, June 22, in Purok Gumamela, Tenan, Ipil, the capital town of Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Recovered from Ashmad were seven grams of shabu worth P47,600, a caliber .22 Sniper Rifle, and 13 pieces of P1,000 boodle money topped with one genuine P500 marked money.

Ylagan said Alpa was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 12:40 p.m. Tuesday. Seized from him some P20,400 worth of illegal drugs, P500 marked money and illegal drug paraphernalia in Purok Sampaguita, Don Andres village, Ipil.

He said Adjula was nabbed in an anti-drug operation around 12:55 a.m. Tuesday, June 22, in Taluksangay village, Zamboanga City.

Confiscated from Adjula were P4,500 worth of shabu, P200 marked money, a sling bag, and a rifle grenade.

Ylagan said appropriate charges will be filed against the arrested suspects. (SunStar Zamboanga)