Authorities seized suspected cocaine and shabu worth nearly P9 million and arrested a 32-year-old man during a sting operation at a motel in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

According to the Police Regional Office-Zamboanga (PRO-9), the suspect, a resident of Barangay Baliwasan, was tagged as high value individual in the illegal drug trade.

PRO-9 added that the suspect was arrested previously for a drug-related offense in 2016.

Confiscated from his possession were suspected cocaine weighing around 1.5 kilos and worth nearly P8 million, and 150 grams of suspected shabu worth more than P1 million.

The suspect was taken into police custody and may face charges.

PRO-9 Director, Brigadier General Eleazar Matta, lauded the coordinated efforts of the operating units.

“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,” Matta said.

“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,” he added.