ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA — Four individuals—including two classified as High-Value Individuals (HVIs)—were arrested in two major police operations that yielded more than 655 grams of suspected shabu valued at over ₱4.4 million, the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9) reported.
The first operation took place on November 21, 2025, around 2:30 p.m. along Malvar Street in Barangay Miputak, Dipolog City. Joint operatives of the Dipolog City Police Station, Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, the PNP Maritime Group’s 5th Special Operations Unit, and the 901st Maneuver Company of RMFB-9, in coordination with PDEA Regional Office 9, conducted a buy-bust that led to the arrest of a 50-year-old male radio technician from Barangay Central.
Seized from the suspect during the operation were approximately 200 grams of suspected shabu worth ₱1,360,000.
Shortly after the arrest, the management of the radio station where the suspect worked reported the discovery of more illegal drugs inside his room within the station compound. Responding personnel recovered an additional 300 grams of suspected shabu, valued at ₱2,040,000. All items were turned over to the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Forensic Unit for documentation and laboratory examination.
A second operation was launched two days later, on November 23 at around 2:52 a.m. along Daisy Road in Barangay Guiwan, Zamboanga City. Personnel of the Zamboanga City Police Office’s City Drug Enforcement Unit, together with the City Intelligence Unit, ZCPS 5, Regional Intelligence Unit 9, RMFB-9, and the Naval Intelligence Security Group Western Mindanao, arrested a 38-year-old man identified as a Newly Listed High-Value Individual. Two other suspects—aged 22 and 23 and categorized as street-level individuals—were also apprehended.
Authorities recovered around 155 grams of suspected shabu valued at ₱1,054,000 during the Guiwan operation.
The three suspects were brought to ZCPS 5 for documentation and the filing of charges. Confiscated evidence was turned over to the ZCPO Forensic Unit for chemical analysis. The arrested individuals also underwent physical and drug testing at the Zamboanga City Medical Center before being detained at the ZCPS 11 facility.
Police Brig. Gen. Edwin A. Quilates, PRO-9 Regional Director, praised the operating units for their “steadfast dedication” and emphasized the importance of intelligence-driven and community-supported operations in dismantling drug networks. He affirmed that PRO-9 remains aligned with the directives of Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. to intensify focused operations aimed at disrupting illegal drug activities and protecting communities across the region.