ILOILO City – Police seized more than P1.3 million worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Taal, Molo district, underscoring what authorities described as the continued presence of mid-level drug distribution activities within residential communities.
Operatives confiscated 205 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P1,394,000 during the operation conducted on the afternoon of December 29, 2025.
The suspect was arrested following a transaction monitored by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6.
Police Major Marvin Villanueva, deputy chief of RPDEU-6, said the suspect was not new to authorities; he had previously been arrested in August 2016 together with a high-profile drug personality during an operation led by the Molo police.
Villanueva said the recent arrest was the result of more than a month of surveillance, during which operatives closely monitored the suspect’s movements and gathered intelligence on his alleged role in the local drug trade.
While the identity of the supplier has yet to be established, police confirmed that the illegal transaction took place in Barangay Taal even though the suspect is reportedly a resident of Barangay San Felix in th e City Proper — an indication, authorities said, that drug operations may be shifting locations to evade detection.
Police said follow-up investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals linked to the supply chain and to dismantle drug networks operating in Iloilo City.
Shabu is the common slang term for methamphetamine hydrochloride (crystal meth). It is a white, odorless crystalline powder or clear “shards” that resemble ice or rock salt and most commonly smoked but can also be snorted, injected, or swallowed.
A powerful central nervous system stimulant, chronic use of shabu leads to severe side effects including paranoia, hallucinations, extreme weight loss, dental decay, and permanent organ or brain damage.
Possession of even small amounts can lead to life imprisonment./PN
