Zamboanga: Authorities have arrested a suspect and seized suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP3.4 million during an anti-drug operation here Thursday night, an official said.

According to Philippines News Agency, Col. Fidel Fortaleza Jr., director of the Zamboanga City Police, identified the arrested suspect as alias Darwin, 43, a motor taxi driver and a resident of Barangay Tulungatung. Fortaleza stated that Darwin, a newly identified high-value individual, was apprehended in a buy-bust operation in Sun Flower Lane, Barangay Canelar at approximately 9:16 p.m.

'The suspect was arrested after he sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover policeman,' Fortaleza said. Seized from the suspect were about 500 grams of suspected shabu, the buy-bust money, a motorcycle, and a sling bag. The suspect was detained at the Zamboanga City Police Station 11 in preparation for the filing of charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The anti-drug operation was launched by the police with the support of military intelligence operatives. The suspect was arrested several hours after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency led Thursday's incineration of PHP1.1 billion worth of illegal drugs in this city. The illegal drugs were seized during various anti-drug operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula.