'Drug den' dismantled, 9 nabbed in Zamboanga anti-drug ops

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government operatives dismantled a drug den and arrested nine people as well as seized PHP205,700 worth of illegal drugs in separate operations in Zamboanga del Norte and in this city, an official said Thursday.

Maj. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer, said five of the eight suspects were arrested in a drug den that was dismantled by a team of police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personnel around 1 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay Galas, Dipolog City, in Zamboanga del Norte.

Galvez identified the arrested individuals as Kimberly Sieres, 21; Shiene Almerol, 18; Honey Gin Ibao, 20; Kissie Ahos, 18; and Casey Aldueza, 20.

The suspects yielded some 15 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP150,000 and PHP1,000 marked money, police said.

Galvez identified the four other arrested suspects as Usman Barah, 32; Kemar Abubakar, 39; Franco Alcazar, 40; and Robinson Torrefranca Poras, 39.

Barah was arrested in possession of some PHP2,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP200 marked money in a buy-bust operation around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday in Sitio Mulumuluan, Barangay Mercedes here, police said.

Police said they recovered from Abubakar some PHP3,700 worth of suspected shabu and PHP200 marked money when arrested in a buy-bust operation around 9:50 p.m. Wednesday in Purok 6, Barangay Recodo here.

Alcazar and Poras, meanwhile, were arrested in a buy-bust operation around 9:20 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Dionisio Riconalla, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, police said.

Galvez said seized the from the possessions of the two suspects were some PHP50,000 worth of suspected shabu, PHP500 marked money, and illegal drug paraphernalia.

She said the suspects are now detained while illegal drug charges are set to be filed against them. (PNA)