COCAINE HAUL. Joint police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives arrest a driver and seize a kilo of suspected cocaine worth PHP5.3 million in an anti-drug operation in Barangay San Jose-Cawa-Cawa, Zamboanga City on Thursday (Oct. 31, 2019). PDEA regional director, lawyer Jacqueline de Guzman, identified the arrested suspect as Timhar Alih, 45, a utility van driver from Barangay Sinunuc, Zamboanga City. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-9)
ZAMBOANGA CITY - A joint team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the local police seized some PHP5.3 million worth of cocaine as they arrested a high-value target (HVT) drug personality in this southern port city, a top PDEA official announced Thursday.
Lawyer Jacqueline de Guzman, PDEA regional director, identified the arrested HVT suspect as Timhar Alih, 45, a utility van (UV) driver and a resident of Sitio Pitogo, Barangay Sinunuc, this city.
De Guzman said Alih was arrested in a buy-bust operation in a food chain outlet in Ruste Drive, Barangay San Jose-Cawa-Cawa, this city.
However, she disclosed that Alih’s associate, a certain Asbi, managed to escape.
De Guzman said seized from Alih were more or less a kilo of suspected cocaine packed in a transparent plastic pack with an estimated value of PHP5.3 million, eight bundles of boodle money topped with one genuine PHP1,000 bill utilized as buy-bust money, a cellular phone, a rubberized bag, a newspaper wrapped with scotch tape, and a brown paper bag.
She said a case for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against the suspect. (PNA)
