LAWMEN have arrested another suspected big-time drug pusher in an anti-drug operation in Zamboanga Peninsula, the police reported Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

Police Colonel Diomarie Albarico, Zamboanga del Sur police director, identified the arrested suspect as Almair Basher, 22, a resident of Porug village, Pualas, Lanao del Sur.

Albarico said Basher was arrested by joint police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives in a buy-bust around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 2, at Zone 4 in Tiguma village, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

Albarico said seized from the suspect’s possession were some 50 grams of suspected shabu worth P340,000, a motorcycle, a cellular phone, a bundle of boodle money topped with one genuine P1,000 used as marked money and other illegal drug paraphernalia.

He said the suspect had been under surveillance before the operatives launched the buy-bust.

He said the suspect, who was detained, will be charged for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Basher was the second suspected big-time drug pusher arrested by the authorities in the region this week.

The first was Jerdan Ahmad, 45, who was arrested by PDEA operatives in a buy-bust operation along Maria Clara Lorenzo Lobregat Highway in Putik village, Zamboanga City, on Sunday, July 2.

Seized from Ahmad were some 60 grams of suspected shabu packed in a large-size heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet worth P408,000. (SunStar Zamboanga)

Source: SunStar (https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1965857/zamboanga/local-news/another-big-time-drug-pusher-falls-in-anti-drug-sting)