ILOILO City – Almost two kilos of alleged shabu worth P12.2 million were condiscated from three drug suspects during an anti-illegal drug operation on Saturday night, November 15, in Barangay Aldeguer, Sara, Iloilo.
The drug seizure is so far the largest haul in Iloilo Province this year, according to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
The operation carried out at around 7 p.m. also resulted to the arrest of three suspects identified as aliases “Che Che,” 37, of Barangay Poblacion Zone 1; “Takong,” 34 of Barangay Pa-on; and Toto” of Barangay Calapdan, all of Estancia town.
Operatives of the IPPO’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit recovered a total of 1.8 kilograms of suspected shabu and P50,000 in buy-bust money.
Police Major Dadje Delima of the PDEU said the suspects had been under surveillance for nearly four months after tips from residents in Sara.
Delima added that Che Che was imprisoned for the same offense and released from jail two years ago.
“We have been tailing her and her two companions for almost four months because she will not entertain buyers who are not known to her,” Delima told Panay News.
He added that before the operation was executed, the suspects had already disposed almost half a million pesos of shabu.
Authorities believe the group sourced their supply from Metro Manila before distributing it across Iloilo.
On the other hand, IPPO director Colonel Bayani Razalan lauded the commendable performance of the PDEU in successfully arresting the province’ top drug targets.
He also expressed his gratitude for the continued support and cooperation of the Ilonggo community.
“Ang ini nga operasyon nagapakita sang tampad nga pangako sang inyo IPPO nga awayon kag tapnaon ang ilegal nga droga sa aton probinsya. Ang madinalag-on nga pagkumpiska sa sini nga kadamuon sang ilegal nga droga kag ang pag-aresto sa sini nga mga drug personalities isa ka pamatuod sang pagbuligay sang aton mga Ilonggo cops kag sang aton mga kasimanwa. Nagapasalamat gid ako sa padayon nga pagsalig kag suporta sang aton komunidad,” Razalan added.
The suspects were detained at Sara Municipal Police Station and will be charged for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
