ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities arrested a 22-year-old student in a buy-bust operation that led to the confiscation of suspected shabu worth an estimated ₱1.7 million in Barangay Guiwan in the early hours of Wednesday, August 7.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Chan Chan,” is a resident of Southcom Village, Calarian, Zamboanga City. He was apprehended inside Room 208 of Lucky Star Motel at around 12:28 a.m. during an anti-drug operation conducted by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO), in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Zamboanga City Office.
Authorities said the operation was carried out under coordination number 30006-082025-0069.
Confiscated from the suspect were five sachets of suspected shabu with a total estimated weight of 250 grams, a black belt bag, and ₱50,000 in buy-bust money. The marked cash included one genuine ₱1,000 bill and 49 pieces of boodle money used in the sting.
Police stated that the suspect was informed of the reason for his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understood, with barangay officials, media representatives, and police investigators present during the procedure.
To ensure transparency, the entire operation was recorded using body-worn cameras and an alternative recording device.
“Chan Chan” is currently detained at the ZCPO Headquarters Detention Facility while appropriate charges are being prepared. All confiscated items were submitted to the Zamboanga City Forensic Unit 9 (ZCFU9) for laboratory examination.