Dueñas drug bust yields PHP 816,000 suspected shabu

ILOILO CITY — Police arrested a 23-year-old man classified by authorities as a high-value individual after allegedly seizing about 120 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 816,000.00 during a buy-bust operation in Dueñas, Iloilo.

The Police Regional Office 6 said the operation took place at about 8:57 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2026, in Barangay Poblacion A, Dueñas.

Police identified the suspect only by the alias “Kevin,” a single laborer and resident of Dingle, Iloilo.

Authorities classified him as a high-value individual, or HVI, under the police campaign against illegal drugs.

The operation was conducted by the Dueñas Municipal Police Station-Station Drug Enforcement Team with the Iloilo Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit Team 1.

Police said the operation followed a series of intelligence validation, surveillance, and target profiling activities concerning the suspect’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Officers recovered one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu that was used as the buy-bust item.

Police also seized three large sachets containing suspected shabu, buy-bust money, and other non-drug-related items.

The suspected illegal drugs had an estimated standard drug price of PHP 816,000.00, according to PRO6.

The suspect remained in the custody of the Dueñas Municipal Police Station while authorities prepared charges for alleged violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

PRO6 Regional Director Police Brigadier Gen. Randulf T. Tuaño said the arrest and seizure resulted from sustained intelligence work and coordination among operating and intelligence units.