ZAMBOANGA CITY - Authorities have arrested 10 persons and seized about PHP415,128 worth of illegal drugs in separate anti-drug operations during the week here in Zamboanga Peninsula, police officials said. The biggest illegal drug haul, worth PHP204,000, led to the arrest of two suspected big-time drug pushers in this city. Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office director, said the two suspects, Vincent Thelmo, 31, and Leo Eijansantos, 29, were arrested in a buy-bust operation at a motel in Barangay Sta. Maria, this city on Tuesday. Lorenzo said seized from the two suspects were about 30 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP204,000, a motorcycle, 14 PHP1,000 counterfeit bills used as boodle money topped with one genuine PHP500 marked money, two sling bags, and a cellular phone. The second biggest illegal drug haul was worth PHP108,800, which resulted in the arrest of another suspected big-time drug pusher in this city, Dennis Bella, 49, who was arr
(Photo courtesy of BOC-Port of Zamboanga) MANILA-The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Zamboanga has destroyed approximately 3,110 master cases and 1,372 reams of imported smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of PHP110 million. According to Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr., District Collector of the Zamboanga port, the condemnation of the illegal items was conducted in a customs-rented warehouse in Baliwasan, Zamboanga City on May 5, 2022. Among the items destroyed were more than 3,110 master cases of cigarettes seized in separate anti-smuggling operations and Customs checkpoints in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Basulta (Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi) from December 2021 to March 2022. The activity was also witnessed by representatives from the local government units, heads of partner law enforcement agencies, representatives from the Commission on Audit, the Department of Health, and other concerned stakeholders. The BOC official also echoed the instruction of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Gue