ZAMBOANGA CITY — Two high-profile drug peddlers and notorious gun for hire in Jolo, Sulu were killed in a shootout with anti-narcotics operatives while seven of their cohorts were arrested during a drug buy-bust operation.

Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao director Pol. Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza on Monday narrated that policemen from Jolo Municipal Police Station — backed by other police units in Jolo town — conducted a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Raymundo on Saturday.

Nobleza said an armed encounter ensued when the suspects sensed that they were dealing with a police agent who posed as a poseur buyer.

“They pulled out their pistols and fired at the operating officers, who then reacted by firing back at the suspects, killing two of them and arresting seven others,” Nobleza said.

Those who were killed were identified as Julman Damming Hasanan alias “Julman” and Alnajer Damming Hasanan alias “Alnajer” while those who were arrested were identified as Moises Abdulahab Saidul alias “Mos”; Parasat Aming Sangkula alias “Pal”; Ibrahim Sarani Hasanan, alias “Ibs”; Fadzrameir Asanan Saidul alias “Fadz”; Alvin Asdali Biting alias “Alvin”; Jayzon Saddi Pereyra alias “Jay” and Alnaser Abdurasul Alamhali alias “Lam”.

The anti-narcotics operatives seized from the possession of the killed suspects were medium pack transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu:  one-unit Cal. 45 pistol Colt Mk IV and one-unit Cal. 45 pistol Armscor.

Operatives also seized several pieces of small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing shabu and a P500 paper bill which the operatives used as buy-bust money and drug paraphernalia.

The arrested suspects and confiscated items and other pieces of evidence were brought to Jolo MPS for proper disposition while the remains of the killed suspects were turned over to their families for Islamic burial rites.