5 nabbed, over P40-K shabu seized in Zambo anti-drug ops

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Five people, including an alleged drug dealer and four newly-identified drug personalities, were arrested while over PHP40,000 worth of suspected shabu were seized in separate anti-drug operations in Zamboanga Peninsula region, a police official said Tuesday.

Maj. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer, said the alleged drug dealer, 49-year-old Albasir Sayadie, was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 5:45 p.m. Monday in Barangay Campo Islam, this city.

Galvez said seized from Sayadie were some PHP40,000 worth of suspected shabu packed in two large, one medium, and five small heat-sealed plastic sachets and PHP200 marked money.

Police identified the four newly-identified drug personalities as Mike Salasa Laya, 40; Mamitua Aquilan Abualas, 43; Mansol Sairin Askalon, 35; and his wife, Jimaa, 25.

They were arrested during a buy-bust operation around 6 p.m. Monday at the boarding house of Vicque Manait Adriano in Purok Verbina, Barangay Poblacion, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte, police said.

Police said the four suspects yielded 16 small heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu, a caliber .45 pistol with 16 live ammunition, illegal drug paraphernalia, and other pieces of evidence.

Galvez said the five suspects were detained for the filing of charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)