Lady jail visitor nabbed for sneaking in ‘shabu’ concealed in charcoal

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A lady visitor of the Iloilo City District Jail-Male Dormitory in Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City is in hot water for allegedly trying to sneak in sachets of suspected shabu.

Vivian Gustilo, 36, of Zone 3-B, Barangay Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City, was caught bringing in three sachets and six plastic straws containing suspected crystal meth hidden in a piece of “charcoal.”

Gustilo, who claimed to be temporarily residing at Barangay Ticud, La Paz, was supposed to visit her boyfriend late afternoon of August 9.

The unnamed man is facing a case for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) following his arrest in a buy-bust operation in Mandurriao, Iloilo City in 2021.

Police Captain Lester Oliveros, Iloilo City Police Station 3 chief, said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) called them up to report the incident.

It appeared that Gustilo was caught by sheer chance.

She allegedly brought with her a pack of charcoal that would be used for cooking within the jail facility.

But Gustilo said a man, whom she could only identify through his face, asked her to bring the charcoal for his detained friend, who also happened to be her boyfriend’s friend and is also facing a drug case.

Gustilo said she agreed because there seemed to be nothing suspicious in the items that she was asked to bring.

But for some reason, one of the charcoal pieces cracked and a plastic sachet protruded.

Oliveros noted that the sachets of shabu were placed inside a piece of wood that has been split in half. It was then painted to imitate the black color of charcoal.

The fake charcoal was then packed with real ones.

Aside from the three sachets and six plastic straws with suspected shabu worth P47,600, police seized six more fake charcoal chunks, an improvised tooter, and two plastic bags.

Gustilo told police investigators that it was her second time visiting her boyfriend and her first time bringing things for someone else.

She is now detained and will also be charged for violation of RA 9165.