ILOILO City – Police in Western Visayas seized approximately P1.6 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested 11 suspected drug pushers — including two high-value individuals — in a series of anti-drug operations conducted within a 24-hour span from April 9 to April 10.
According to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), the operations resulted in the confiscation of around 230 grams of suspected shabu across several provinces.
The first major operation took place at around 4 p.m. on April 9 in Barangay Canabajan, Calinog, Iloilo. Law enforcers served a search warrant and apprehended a suspect identified only as alias “Ami,” a known high-value individual. Approximately 120 grams of suspected shabu valued at P816,000 were recovered from the suspect.
In a separate operation at around 3:50 p.m. in Sitio Malbog, Barangay Tingui-an, Balasan, Iloilo, personnel from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) arrested two individuals, alias “Agoy,” 49, and “Pompom,” 36. Authorities confiscated an estimated 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000 from the duo.
The IPPO recorded the highest number of arrests with five individuals taken into custody across its jurisdiction.
PRO-6 regional director Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky commended all operating units for their intensified anti-drug efforts.
“With these accomplishments, we sincerely thank the community, local government units, and other law enforcement agencies for their continued support that led to these commendable arrests and confiscations,” said Wanky.
He added, “With the collaboration and coordination we have, surely we can sustain our aggressive campaign and shield our communities from the peril of illegal drugs.”
All suspects are now under police custody and will be charged with violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN