Couple nabbed in drug bust

A COUPLE was arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation evening of Jan. 30, 2019 in City Proper, Iloilo City.

Armin Dajay and his wife, Mary Encarnacion Dajay, both 45 years old and residents of Barangay Rizal-Ibarra, City Proper, were collared after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P1,000.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU) led the bust at Mabini Street, Barangay San Agustin.

The couple yielded 8 sachets of suspected shabu, P1,000 buy bust money, a mobile phone, and a black pouch.

Superintendent Roger Morales, ICPO-CDEU chief, said Armin Dajay used to work as a driver for Melvin Taxi, a company owned by slain suspected drug personality Melvin Odicta, Sr.

His regular clients are also taxi drivers as his regular clients, Morales added.

The suspect was never subjected to Oplan Tokhang as he was considered a newly-identified drug personality.

Dajay admitted his involvement in the illegal drug trade and pointed to alias Nene of Zone 1, Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao district, as his source of illegal drugs.

But while he admitted his misdeed, the suspect said his wife has nothing to do with the illegal drug trade.

But Morales was firm in claiming that the couple connived in giving the sachet of shabu to a police poseur-buyer.

“Maybe, Armin was hoping that by admitting it all, he could spare his wife from the legal charges,” he said.

The couple is now detained at the lock-up cell of the Iloilo City Police Station 1 and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).