TUNGAWAN, Zamboanga Sibugay — Authorities scored a major breakthrough in the government’s intensified anti-drug campaign after confiscating an estimated ₱6.8 million worth of suspected shabu during a search warrant operation in Purok Santan, Barangay Libertad on Wednesday afternoon, April 15, 2026.
Operatives from the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 9 (RDEU9), led by Police Lieutenant Jun Socrates H. Vios and under the supervision of PLTCOL Moh Madzdie-Aziz K. Mukaram, implemented Search Warrant No. 315 at around 4:00 p.m., targeting a black Mitsubishi Montero Sport bearing plate number NKJ 5201.
During a thorough inspection of the vehicle, authorities recovered approximately 1,000 grams of a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu. The illegal drugs, concealed inside a tea bag container with a vacuum-sealed plastic sachet, have an estimated street value of ₱6.8 million.
The vehicle had a prior link to illegal drug activities. It was previously seized on March 31, 2026, during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. In that operation, two individuals identified as Almabarak Sansaluna Akmad and Al Ha Afid Bangon Abdul—both tagged as High-Value Individuals (HVIs)—were arrested after allegedly attempting to evade authorities using the same vehicle before being cornered in Tungawan.
Law enforcement officials noted that the April 15 operation was part of a coordinated effort among police, military units, and PDEA operatives, underscoring strengthened inter-agency collaboration in combating the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region.
The seized substances have been secured and are undergoing documentation before being submitted to the court of origin. Subsequently, the evidence will be turned over to the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Forensic Unit for laboratory examination to verify the substance’s purity and exact weight.
Akmad and Abdul remain in custody and are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, which penalizes the possession, distribution, and trafficking of illegal drugs.
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to sustain aggressive anti-drug operations, emphasizing that the seizure represents a significant step in curbing the flow of narcotics and dismantling drug networks in Zamboanga Sibugay and nearby areas.