Drug pushers hoard shabu for the Holidays, police say

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Police anti-drug units believe local drug peddlers are stockpiling shabu in anticipation of increased demand during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU), Iloilo City Police Office–City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU), and Iloilo Police Provincial Office–Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU) have intensified operations to disrupt the supply flow ahead of the Holidays.

Major Dadje Delima, chief of the IPPO-PDEU, said drug pushers are banking on the seasonal spike in street prices.

“They’re expecting a rise in the street price of shabu once Christmas and New Year near,” Delima said.

In the weeks leading up to the Holidays, drug dealers could acquire shabu for PHP 4,000 per gram or less.

They then resell it for PHP 6,800 per gram, the standard drug price (SDP) set by the Dangerous Drugs Board nationwide.

“That would give a good margin of earnings,” Delima added.

Suppliers are expected to hike prices to PHP 5,000 to PHP 5,500—or more—per gram as the demand increases during the Holidays.

Authorities are targeting sources in Iloilo’s 1st and 5th districts, believed to hold the largest supply of shabu.

Police are also preparing for a possible spike in drug activity ahead of the Dinagyang Festival in January.

Major Marvin Villanueva, deputy chief of RPDEU-6, and Captain Roque Gimeno III, ICPO-CDEU chief, said drug pushers want to ensure an uninterrupted supply.

“The price might not increase, but they want a steady supply in case demand hits high,” Gimeno said.

DRUG RAIDS

On Nov. 29, ICPO-CDEU operatives seized more than half a kilo of suspected shabu and an unlicensed firearm in a buy-bust operation in the Arevalo district.

Alias Von, 47, a resident of Barangay Namocon, Tigbauan, Iloilo, was caught with around 550 grams of shabu valued at PHP 3,740,000.

More recently, RPDEU-6 launched two anti-drug operations in Iloilo that netted over PHP 10 million worth of shabu.

A live-in couple was arrested in Barangay Hipodromo, City Proper, Iloilo City, on Dec. 5. Authorities confiscated 1.2 kilograms of shabu worth PHP 8,160,000.

Four hours later, two suspects were arrested just after midnight on Dec. 6 in Barangay Pulo Maestra Vita, Oton, Iloilo.

They were caught with around 305 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 2,074,000.

Meanwhile, the IPPO-PDEU apprehended a woman ex-convict on Dec. 6 in Dumangas, Iloilo.

Alias Jenjen, 39, of Barangay Lagubang, Barotac Nuevo, was found in possession of approximately 505 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 3,434,000.

On Dec. 8, IPPO-PDEU operatives arrested a former barangay captain in People’s Village, Barangay Calapdan, Estancia, Iloilo.

Alias Paolo, 40, of Barangay Poblacion Market, Sara, Iloilo, was found with around 770 grams of shabu valued at PHP 5,236,000.