‘Bodegero’ falls in PHP 2.3 million Iloilo drug sting

ILOILO CITY — An alleged bodegero, or warehouseman, of illegal drugs was arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation in Balasan, Iloilo.

Alias Joel, 45, of Barangay Malbog, Estancia, Iloilo, was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Pani-an, Balasan.

Members of the Balasan Municipal Police Station arrested Joel after he allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover police officer.

Police Lt. Patrick John Alabado, Balasan police chief, said authorities seized around 340 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of PHP 2,312,000.

Alabado said Joel’s arrest was the result of developed intelligence information and a series of intelligence validation activities, surveillance, and target profiling.

Previously arrested drug suspects allegedly identified Joel as being involved in the illegal drug trade.

Joel was eventually arrested after a two-month surveillance operation.

The suspect had no previous arrest record.

Alabado said police are still investigating the person Joel was allegedly working for.

Reports indicated that Joel sourced his drug supply from within the province and allegedly operated in several municipalities in Iloilo’s fifth district.

The suspect is now detained and will be charged with violating Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.