Iloilo police seize PHP 4.18 million worth of ‘shabu’

Police in Iloilo Province and Iloilo City said they arrested seven suspects in separate anti-drug operations on March 24, 2026, seized about 615 grams of suspected shabu with a combined standard drug price of PHP 4,182,000, and captured Iloilo City’s Top 3 most wanted person for illegal drugs after more than two years in hiding.

In Iloilo Province, the Police Regional Office 6 said three drug suspects were arrested and about 395 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 2,686,000 were recovered in separate operations in Leganes and Sara.

In Leganes, a buy-bust operation at about 4:47 p.m. in Barangay Calaboa led to the arrest of alias “Rex,” 42, a jobless resident whom police identified as a newly listed high-value individual.

Police said the suspect had previously been convicted in a drug case, was released on parole, and had allegedly been operating in Leganes and Iloilo City.

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Team 1 carried out the operation with the Leganes Municipal Police Station and the Provincial Intelligence Unit after receiving a tip from a minor runner, according to the police release.

Seized in Leganes were nine heat-sealed plastic sachets containing about 335 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 2,278,000, along with buy-bust money and other non-drug items.

In a separate operation at about 7:34 p.m. in Sitio Kalubihan, Barangay Aspera, Sara, joint operatives from the Sara Municipal Police Station and the 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company arrested alias “Sam,” 26, a laborer from Barangay Apologista, whom police classified as a high-value individual, and alias “Itik,” 34, a resident of Barangay Arante, whom police classified as a street-level individual.

Authorities said they recovered five sachets containing about 60 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of PHP 408,000, along with buy-bust money and other non-drug items.

All three provincial suspects are under police custody and will face charges for alleged violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, police said.

In Iloilo City, the Iloilo City Police Office said separate buy-bust operations on the same day led to the arrest of three high-value individuals and the confiscation of more than 220 grams of suspected shabu with a total standard drug price of PHP 1,496,000.

In Molo, at about 2:29 p.m. in Zone 2, Barangay Boulevard, Iloilo City Police Station 4 arrested alias “Wil/Panes,” 50, a jobless resident whom police classified as a high-value individual.

Police said they seized about 50 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of PHP 340,000.

In La Paz, at about 6:19 p.m. in Zone 5, Barangay San Isidro, Iloilo City Police Station 2 arrested aliases “Tame,” 39, and “Badoy,” 36, both residents listed under the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

That operation yielded about 100 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 680,000, including buy-bust items, additional sachets under constructive possession, and buy-bust money, according to police.

In Mandurriao, at about 8:10 p.m. in Zone 1, Barangay Bakhaw, joint elements of the ICPO City Drug Enforcement Unit and support units arrested alias “Dimple,” 41, a single, jobless woman whom police classified as a high-value individual.

Operatives recovered about 70 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of PHP 476,000, along with buy-bust money and other non-drug items, police said.

The arrested city suspects are under police custody and will face charges for alleged violation of Republic Act 9165, police said.

In a separate operation, personnel of Iloilo City Police Station 3, working with the Pototan Municipal Police Station, arrested Iloilo City’s Top 3 most wanted person for illegal drugs in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo, at about 5:38 p.m.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Romil,” 55, jobless, and a resident of Jaro, Iloilo City.

He was arrested on the strength of a warrant for alleged violation of Article II, Section 5, Paragraph 1 of Republic Act 9165, covering the sale, trading, administration, delivery, distribution, and transportation of dangerous drugs.

The warrant was issued Sept. 29, 2023, by the Regional Trial Court, 6th Judicial Region, Branch 25, Iloilo City, with no bail recommended, police said.

The arrested most wanted suspect is now under the custody of Iloilo City Police Station 3 for proper disposition of the case.