5 nabbed, P342-K shabu seized in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police arrested five alleged drug personalities, including a militiaman, and seized a firearm and some PHP342,000 worth of illegal drugs here and in Zamboanga del Sur, an official said Thursday.

Brig. Gen. Jesus Cambay Jr., Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) director, identified those arrested as Faisal Maguindanaon Buisan, 32; Shariff Gausan Khan Kiram, 28; Al-Sharif Sahipa Kiram, 51; Abdurahman Sahiban Eugenio, 26; and Jovien Ramirez Velarde, 44.

Cambay said Buisan, tagged as a street-level illegal drug peddler, was arrested in possession of some 5 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP40,000, and the PHP1,000 marked money when arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Curvada, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur at about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Seized from the Kirams were suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP25,000, a caliber .45 pistol with ammunition, and the PHP500 marked money when arrested in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Pitogo, Sinunuc here at about 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, police said.

Cambay identified the elder Kiram (Al-Sharif) as a member of the Army's militia force.

Meanwhile, Eugenio, a suspected big-time drug personality, was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Talon-Talon here at about 10 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

Police said Eugenio yielded some 40 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP272,000, and one rolled boodle money of PHP1,000 bills with five PHP100 bills as marked money.

Recovered from the possession of Velarde were suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP5,000 and PHP200 marked money when arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay Calarian here at about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, police said.

Cambay said charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are set to be filed against the suspects, who are in detention. (PNA)