P27.2-M shabu seized in Zamboanga City; 4 arrested

POLICE held four high-value targets and seized over four kilos of suspected shabu or crystal meth with an estimated value of P27.2 million in a drug sting on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 10 in Calarian Village, Zamboanga City.

P/Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office said suspects Ben Kalbi Basaluddin, 33; Wajil Handrang Jala, 38; Nadzmar Elyas Abdul, 38, and his wife Noralyn Tahil Abdul, 38, were arrested in a buy-bust operation after completing a transaction with a police undercover who pretended to be a buyer in Purok 11, Phase 1, Acacia Drive.

Seized from the suspects were four large plastic packs containing one kilo each of shabu and one heat-sealed plastic sachet of 50 grams shabu. 

Along with the recovered contraband were 999 pieces of P1,000 boodle money topped with one genuine P1,000 marked money.

Lt. Col. Elmer Solon, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Management Unit, said the suspects are now detained pending the filing of charges in violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Lorenzo said that the source of the four arrested suspects was the same as that of another high-value target intercepted by authorities just last December 20, 2023 also in Zamboanga City.  in possession of illegal drugs with an estimated worth of P47.6 million.