LAWMEN have arrested three alleged big-time drug personalities and seized some P34 million worth of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) in an anti-drug operation in Tawi-Tawi, an official announced on Tuesday, December 10.
Edgar Jubay, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional director, said the suspects were arrested in a drug bust around 8:30 a.m., Tuesday in Poblacion village, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
Jubay identified the arrested suspects as Haberson Jaafar, Elmer Jamadin, and Adzfar Asali, all residents of Poblacion, Bongao.
Jubay said seized from the suspects were some five kilograms of suspected shabu packed in five big-sized plastic sachets worth P34 million, four units cellular phones, boodle money topped with one genuine P1,000 bill, and other illegal drug paraphernalia.
He said formal charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Article II of Republic Act 9165 will be filed against the suspects, who were detained.
The anti-drug operation was carried out by a joint team of PDEA offices of Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), police and Philippine Marines. (SunStar Zamboanga)