18/04/2026
₱7.48-M Shabu Seized; Suspect Arrested in Zamboanga City
Buy-Bust
A major blow was dealt against illegal drug operations following a successful, intelligence-driven buy-bust operation that led to the arrest of a high-value suspect and the seizure of approximately 1,100 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of ₱7,480,000.00 late Thursday evening, April 16, 2026.
At about 10:12 PM, joint operatives of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 9 and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 9, in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Division 9, Lamitan City Police Station, Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, Naval Intelligence and Security Group–Western Mindanao, Philippine Drug Enforcement Group, 1st Special Operations Unit–Maritime Group, 904th Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9, Zamboanga City Maritime Police Station, and Zamboanga City Police Station (ZCPS) 9, conducted the operation in Purok 7B, Barangay Recodo, this city.
The operation resulted in the arrest of a 52-year-old male suspect, a resident of Barangay Recodo, Zamboanga City, and a native of Pababag, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
Seized from the suspect were fourteen heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, including buy-bust items, with a total weight of more or less 1,100 grams.
The confiscated drug evidence will be submitted to the Regional Forensic Unit 9 for qualitative and quantitative examination, while the arrested suspect is currently under the custody of ZCPS 9 for proper disposition and filing of appropriate charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Police Brigadier General Edwin A Quilates, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 9, commended the operating units for the successful operation, emphasizing the importance of sustained collaboration among law enforcement agencies.
“This successful operation highlights the strength of our unified efforts in combating illegal drugs. Let this serve as a strong warning to those who continue to engage in the drug trade—Police Regional Office 9 remains relentless and uncompromising in its campaign. We will continue to intensify our operations to ensure that communities in the Zamboanga Peninsula are safe, secure, and free from the threat of illegal drugs.”
Police Regional Office 9 reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to intensifying anti-illegal drug operations through sustained inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and decisive law enforcement actions.
Authorities assure the public that relentless efforts will continue to dismantle drug networks and ensure safer, drug-free communities across the Zamboanga Peninsula and Province of Sulu in line with the guiding principle “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat at Nararamdaman.”
