ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Police Regional Office (PRO) 9, under the leadership of Police Brigadier General Elmer E Ragay, Regional Director, intensified its campaign against illegal drugs with a successful joint buy-bust operation that resulted in the arrest of a High-Value Individual (HVI) and the seizure of approximately three kilograms of suspected shabu valued at ₱20.4 million in Zamboanga City.
At about 3:55 PM on October 7, 2026, personnel of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 9, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 9, together with Naval Intelligence and Security Group–Western Mindanao, PNP Drug Enforcement Group, 1st Special Operations Unit, Maritime Group, 904th Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9, Zamboanga City Maritime Police Station, PNP Special Action Force, and Zamboanga City Police Station (ZCPS) 4 conducted the anti-illegal drugs operation at Calle Real, Barangay Mercedes, Zamboanga City that resulted in the confiscation of three heat-sealed transparent plastic packs containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, weighing more or less three kilograms, with an estimated Standard Drug Price of ₱20,400,000.00 and the arrest of a 30-year-old male High-Value Individual, residing in Gata, Talipao, Sulu.
The confiscated drug evidence will be submitted to the Regional Forensic Unit 9 for quantitative and qualitative examination. Meanwhile, the arrested suspect was brought to the ZCPS 4 detention facility for proper documentation and safekeeping.
The suspect will face charges for Violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PBGen Ragay, Regional Director, PRO 9, commended the operating personnel and partner agencies for the successful operation, emphasizing that the seizure represents another significant step in disrupting the movement of illegal drugs into communities.
“This accomplishment demonstrates our firm resolve to pursue high-value drug personalities and dismantle the networks that threaten the safety and well-being of our communities. PRO 9 will remain relentless in conducting intelligence-driven and well-coordinated operations against illegal drugs. We will continue to work closely with our partner agencies to ensure that those involved in the illegal drug trade are identified, apprehended, and brought before the courts in accordance with law,”_ PBGen Ragay said.
PRO 9 remains steadfast in its mission to disrupt the illegal drug trade through intelligence-led operations and close coordination with partner agencies, while ensuring that every action is grounded in the rule of law. Guided by the Chief, PNP mantra, “Sa Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman.”
-PIO, PRO 9
