ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities seized an estimated ₱13.6 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested a 29-year-old High-Value Individual (HVI) in a coordinated anti-drug operation in Barangay Ayala on Friday morning, May 1, 2026.
The suspect, a married, college graduate and unemployed resident of the area originally from Jolo, Sulu, was apprehended in Zone 6, Kalye San Vicente at around 7:18 a.m. Operatives recovered approximately 2,000 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, packed in two vacuum-sealed transparent plastic bags.
The operation was led by the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 9 in close coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 9, with support from multiple law enforcement and military units. These included the Naval Intelligence Security Group–Western Mindanao, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, Special Operations Unit 9, Maritime Group, the 904th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9, the Zamboanga City Maritime Police Station, and local police units.
Police said the seized substances will undergo quantitative and qualitative examination at the Regional Forensic Unit 9 to determine their exact composition and weight. Authorities noted that the current valuation is based on standard drug pricing, and the final figure may vary after laboratory confirmation.
The suspect is currently detained at Zamboanga City Police Station 11 (ZCPS 11) and is set to face charges for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The Police Regional Office 9 (PRO 9) said the successful operation underscores intensified efforts to dismantle illegal drug networks in Western Mindanao. Officials reiterated their call for public vigilance and cooperation, stressing that community involvement remains critical in sustaining anti-drug operations and ensuring peace and order across the Zamboanga Peninsula and nearby provinces.