ZAMBOANGA CITY — Seven people, including a soldier and a former coast guard personnel, were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in the region amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis, officials said Thursday.
Police identified the arrested suspects as Jeffrey Carlos Ismael, 30; Adzmie Tatong Ahmad, 24; Ali Sha Ran Tatong Hayudini, 25; Adzar Ramerez Seguente, 30; Abdel-Aziz Julkanain, 35; Oshe Bokingkito Arquiza, 37; and, Habir Ismael Adam, 36.
Hayudini is a member of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) assigned at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in this city while Julkanain is a member of the Philippine Cost Guard (PCG), who went on absence without official leave (AWOL), police said.
Maj. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer, said Ismael, Ahmad and Hayudini were arrested in a buy-bust operation around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday in Villa Maria Drive, Barangay Tetuan, this city.
Ismael, Ahmad, and Hayudini yielded some PHP600 worth of suspected shabu, PHP200 marked money, a 9-mm pistol with two magazines and 32 rounds of ammunition, and illegal drug-paraphernalia, Galvez said.
Galvez said Arquiza yielded some PHP80,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP500 marked money when arrested in a buy-bust operation around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday in Purok School Zone, Barangay Upper Turno, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.
Capt. Edwin Duco, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) information officer, said Seguente was arrested in possession of some PHP15,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP200 marked money in a buy-bust operation around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Suterville, Barangay San Jose Gusu, this city.
Julkanain yielded some PHP30,000 worth of suspected shabu, PHP200 marked money and a motorcycle when arrested around 5:50 p.m. Wednesday in Sutterville, Barangay San Jose Gusu here, Duco said.
Duco said Adam, a newly identified “drug pusher,” was arrested around 5:50 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Tigbalabag here. He allegedly yielded some PHP1,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP200 marked money.
All arrested drug suspects were detained for the filing of proper charges against them, officials said. (PNA)