Google map of the Zamboanga Peninsula.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Teams of policemen and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives arrested a drug syndicate member and five others in separate anti-drug operations across the region, an official announced Tuesday.
Brig. Gen. Jesus Cambay Jr., Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, identified the alleged member of Tongtong Drug syndicate as Rene Sumicad, 30, who is in the drug watch list.
Cambay said Sumicad was arrested in possession of some PHP13,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP500 marked money in a buy-bust operation around 5:30 p.m. Monday in Barangay Upper Sulitan, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Police identified the other arrested suspects as Roderico Santos, 49; Ricky Dela Cruz, 39; Reynaldo Laranjo, 41; Karim Damih, 41; and, Artemio Icao Jr., 30.
Santos was found in possession of some PHP6,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP200 marked money when arrested in a buy-bust operation around 1:30 p.m. Monday in Zone 2, Barangay Pasobolong here, police said.
Dela Cruz, meanwhile, yielded some PHP5,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP200 marked money in a buy-bust operation around 2 p.m. Monday in Zone 1, Barangay Mercedes here.
Laranjo, on the other hand, yielded some PHP20,400 worth of suspected shabu and PHP1,000 marked money in a buy-bust operation around 3:30 p.m. Monday in Purok Orchids, Barangay Santo Niño in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.
Moreover, Damih was arrested around 5:30 p.m. Monday in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Mercedes here. Police said he yielded some PHP3,400 worth of suspected shabu and PHP200 marked money.
Further, police said Icao, a member of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Council, was caught in possession of some PHP3,500 worth of suspected shabu and marked money in a buy-bust operation around 10:20 p.m. Monday in Barangay North Poblacion, Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte.
Cambay said charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspects. (PNA)
