ZAMBOANGA CITY (March 16) — Three suspected drug dealers were arrested and more than P10 million worth of suspected shabu was seized in two separate anti-drug operations conducted Saturday in Zamboanga City, authorities said.
According to Bryan Babang, operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency carried out the buy-bust operations that led to the arrest of three suspects identified only by their aliases “Brandon,” “Arnold,” and “Ben.”
“Brandon,” a city resident, was first arrested around 7:50 p.m. along Corcuera Street in Barangay Zone 4 after allegedly selling illegal drugs to an undercover operative.
Authorities recovered one kilogram of suspected shabu valued at about P6.8 million, along with marked money, a mobile phone, and a car believed to have been used in the drug delivery.
Earlier that afternoon, two other suspects—“Arnold” and “Ben”—were arrested during another buy-bust operation outside a hotel in Barangay Canelar at around 4:45 p.m.
Seized from them were about 500 grams of suspected shabu worth P3.4 million.
Babang said the operations were carried out after the suspects agreed to complete drug transactions with undercover agents.
The three suspects are now facing charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Authorities said the successful operations underscore continuing efforts to disrupt the illegal drug trade in the city, a key transport hub in western Mindanao.
