ZAMBOANGA CITY – Eight people, including one suspected big-time drug dealer, were arrested while some PHP369,845 worth of illegal drugs and a firearm were seized in separate anti-drug operations this week here in Zamboanga Peninsula.
The police identified the arrested alleged big-time drug dealer as Hamisani Jaani, 42, a resident of Barangay Sinunuc, here.
Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office director, said Jaani was arrested in an anti-drug operation around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday in Hilltop Subdivision, Barangay Sinunuc.
Lorenzo said seized from Jaani were some 50 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP340,000 and boodle money consisting of 79 pieces of counterfeit PHP1,000 topped with one genuine PHP1,000 bill as marked money.
Meanwhile, Kenny Tarroza, 37, yielded some 0.4411 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of PHP2,999 and two PHP100 bills as marked money in a buy-bust operation around 11:40 p.m. Wednesday in Sitio Licopon, Barangay Bunguiao here, Lorenzo said.
Col. Eduard Mallo, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, reported that an 18-year-old suspect was also arrested in possession of two grams of suspected shabu worth PHP13,600 in a buy-bust operation around 12:49 a.m. also on Wednesday in Purok African Daisy, Barangay Don Andres in Ipil, the province’s capital town.
Armed
In Zamboanga del Sur, a .45- caliber pistol with ammunition was seized from Glen Mark Ramo, 35; Edwin Chavez, 44; and Van Pelt Escario, 29; when they were arrested in an anti-drug operation around 3:50 a.m. Wednesday in Purok Curvada, Barangay Dao, Pagadian City.
Col. Diomarie Albarico, Zamboanga del Sur police director, said seized from the three were some 0.588 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP3,998, PHP1,000 marked money, and other personal belongings.
Albarico added that a driver, Vincenth Arceo, 30, was caught in possession of some 0.56 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP3,808 in a buy-bust operation around 2:38 p.m. Wednesday in Purok Loverslane, Barangay San Jose in Aurora town, Zamboanga del Sur.
Also recovered from Arceo were PHP500 marked money, PHP70 cash, and other illegal drug paraphernalia.
Another suspect, Jonathan Blasé, 33, was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday in Purok Mauswagon, Barangay Sto. Ñino in Tukuran town, also in Zamboanga del Sur.
Albarico said seized from Blasé were some 0.80 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP5,440 and PHP1,000 marked money.
Most wanted
Also in Zamboanga Sibugay, one of the province’s most wanted persons, a statutory rape suspect, fell two days after the issuance of an arrest warrant by an Ipil court.
Mallo said Rudy Lumanggar (alias Dodong), 28, was arrested at around 4:45 p.m. Friday in Sitio Panangan, Barangay Lower Tungawan, Tungawan town.
No bail was recommended. (PNA)
