By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

ARRESTED. Joint Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and police operatives arrest a police officer from Basilan (handcuffed in red shirt, 3rd from left) and seize about PHP13.6 million in suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City, on Saturday (May 16, 2026). The suspect was arrested after transacting with an undercover PDEA agent. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-ZCO)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Anti-narcotic authorities arrested a police officer from Basilan province and seized illegal drugs worth PHP13.6 million on Saturday.

The arrested police was identified as alias “Abdul,” 45, a police staff sergeant and a resident of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Zamboanga City Office (PDEA-ZCO) said Abdul was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 5:45 p.m. in Sitio Bagong Dalan, Barangay Sta. Maria, this city.

“The suspect was arrested after he transacted illegal drugs with an undercover PDEA agent. Seized from the suspect were two vacuum-sealed bags containing suspected shabu weighing 2,000 grams,” the PDEA-ZCO report read.

The standard value of the confiscated suspected shabu is PHP13.6 million.

Also seized from the suspect were a Glock 17 pistol with 42 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle, a police identification card and 16 bundles of boodle money.

The suspect has been detained and will face charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The anti-drug operation was launched by PDEA operatives from Isabela City, Basilan with the support of different police units.

Saturday’s drug haul is the second-largest seizure of illegal drugs authorities have made in this city this week.

On May 13, police authorities arrested three suspects and seized some PHP34 million worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Zone 4 here. (PNA)