ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has seized P12.2 million worth of shabu, the biggest drug haul so far this month, in its continued anti-illegal drugs campaign in Western Mindanao.
In a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency, PDEA Regional Director Lyndon Aspacio said they have also arrested a suspected big time drug pusher, Al-Jhmer Jakilan, 33, who disguised himself by working as a security guard.
Aspacio said Jakilan was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 1 p.m. Saturday in Estrada Drive, Barangay Tetuan, this city, following days of surveillance on the suspect’s illicit activities.
Seized from Jakilan were 2,443.8 grams of suspected shabu, packed in nine self-sealing plastic sachets and two self-sealing plastic bags worth P12.2 million; two P1,000 bills placed on top of two bundles of neatly-cut “boodle money” made to appear as P200,000 used as buy-bust money; and a biscuit can.
Aspacio said charges for violating Section 5 (selling of illegal drugs) and Section 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are set to be filed against the suspect.
The P12.2-million shabu haul was the fifth and the biggest drug haul of Aspacio’s office, as their campaign against illegal drugs in the Western Mindanao area continues.
Western Mindanao covers the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay, including Zamboanga City, as well as the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi that are part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The four other big drug hauls by PDEA were P5 million worth of suspected shabu seized in a buy-bust operation last Nov. 3 in Canelar, Zamboanga City; P1.5 million last Nov. 20 in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; P5 million in Dec. 2 in Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City; and, P1.2 million last Dec. 6 in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
Aspacio said the latest haul was made possible through the assistance of the other law enforcement agencies such as the police and Naval Forces Western Mindanao.