The Police Regional Office 9 (PRO 9) has dealt another heavy blow to the illegal drug trade, arresting a high-value drug personality and confiscating nearly P9-M worth of shabu and cocaine in a meticulously planned operation in Zamboanga City.
The buy-bust took place at a motel in Barangay Putik around 6:40 p.m. on September 16, 2025. What made the operation remarkable was the seamless coordination among multiple law enforcement and military units, proving once again that united efforts lead to powerful results.
Personnel from the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) Drug Enforcement Unit, along with the City Intelligence Unit, Regional Intelligence Unit 9, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9, Counter-Terrorism Division of the PNP Intelligence Group, Marine Battalion Landing Team-1 of the Philippine Marines, Command Intelligence Air Combat Command of the Philippine Air Force, and Zamboanga City Police Station 5, carried out the operation in close coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Zamboanga City Office.
The target was a 32-year-old man from Barangay Baliwasan, classified as a High-Value Individual (HVI) and a repeat offender, previously arrested in 2016 for drug-related charges. This time, authorities caught him with 150 grams of suspected shabu valued at P1,020,000 and 1.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine worth P7,950,000, totaling P8,970,000 in seized narcotics.
The suspect is now detained at Zamboanga City Police Station 5 as formal charges are being prepared, while the confiscated drugs have been submitted for laboratory analysis.
Police Brigadier General Eleazar P. Matta, Regional Director of PRO 9, commended the operation as a shining example of what unity and vigilance can achieve in the ongoing fight against illegal drugs.
“This successful operation shows our strong resolve to combat illegal drugs and crime. The dedication and teamwork along with the PDEA prove that working together gets results. But this is a shared responsibility. We call on our communities to be our eyes and ears on the ground. When we unite, we create a stronger defense for our neighborhoods and a safer future for everyone in the Zamboanga Peninsula,” PBGen Matta said.
This operation is more than just another win for the police, but a clear message to drug syndicates that PRO 9 is relentless in its mission to protect the Zamboanga Peninsula.
With every arrest and every seizure, the PNP strengthens its stand that criminality will never outweigh the dedication of law enforcers working hand in hand with the community.
(Mikaila Abrinica, September 17, 2025)