Three drug dens have been dismantled by the authorities, resulting in the arrest of 10 suspects and the confiscation of at least P306,000 worth of illegal drugs in the southern port city, according to a top police official on Saturday.
According to Zamboanga City Police Office director Col. Alexander Lorenzo, the drug dens were dismantled in simultaneous search warrant operations headed by police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personnel in Barangay Sta. Catalina at around 7:10 p.m. on Friday.
Lorenzo said the operations were launched following surveillance of the suspects' illegal activities.
He stated that he was apprehended in the first drug den in Purok 4A, Barangay Sta. Johan Sandalan Tan, Rayma Asbi Tan, Shaira Bungkalang Asbi, Alrashid Mohammad Tan, and Jamarjin Akmad were the cast members of Catalina.
They were arrested with 15 grams of suspected shabu packed in 13 plastic sachets, with a street value of PHP 102,000, as well as illegal drug paraphernalia.
Lorenzo claimed to have been cornered in the second drug den on Attuphai 5th Street in Barangay Sta. Catalina's cast members included Judith Magasa, Myra Magasa, Allan Lumiljo Pulido, and Ariel Muyda.
He stated that the second drug den seized 15 grams of suspected shabu packed in 11 plastic sachets worth PHP 102,000, as well as several drugs and non-drug paraphernalia.
When arrested in the third drug den in Barangay Sta, Jomar Dignadice Orosca yielded about 15 grams of suspected shabu packed in nine plastic sachets worth PHP 102,000, according to him. Catalina.
Several pieces of illegal drug paraphernalia, including a pair of scissors and an empty box of cigarettes, were also seized.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo mentioned that the PDEA has taken custody of all of the arrested suspects and evidence.
