Alleged drug peddler nabbed with 156K worth of ‘shabu’

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A suspected big-time illegal drug peddler was arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation late evening of June 26, 2021 in City Proper district, Iloilo City.

Rammel Castilla, 40, of Barangay Lanit, Jaro district, was collared after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P20,000 to a police poseur-buyer.

The trade happened 10 pm Saturday at Valeria Street, Barangay Kauswagan, City Proper.

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (RPDEU-6), together with Iloilo City Police Station 2 and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 6 (CIDG-6), conducted the operation against Castillo, an alleged street level drug pusher.

Recovered from Castilla were four sachets of suspected shabu weighing around 23 grams and valued at P156,400; and other non-drug items.

The operatives also seized a Ford Ranger pick-up, which the suspect claimed he owned.

Castilla used to be a heavy equipment operator. But he claimed that his wife works at an accounting firm while his brother-in-law owns a trucking business in Guimaras province.

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, RPDEU-6 chief, said the suspect’s name was included in their target list following the arrest of Barangay Kagawad Jade Catedral two weeks ago in Oton, Iloilo.

Catedral, 35, of Barangay Talaba, Badiangan, Iloilo, was arrested at his grandmother’s house at Orchard-B, Savannah Subdivision in Barangay Abilay Norte, Oton. He yielded P100,000 worth of illegal drugs.

Castilla and Catedral allegedly operated under one group and got their supply from Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao district.

Castilla is believed to be operating in the second and third district towns of Iloilo province.

Castilla is now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).