More than PHP2M Worth of ‘Shabu’ Seized in City Busts

By Jennifer P. Rendon

More than PHP2 million worth of suspected shabu was seized in a police anti-narcotics operation shortly after midnight on June 17 in Iloilo City Proper.

The suspects, identified by the aliases Jerbelle, 41, of Zone 4, Barangay Dawis, Dingle, and Sander, 37, of Barangay Malipayon, City Proper, were arrested in a buy-bust operation at 12:52 a.m. Tuesday in Barangay Tanza Esperanza.

Operatives from the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 apprehended the duo after they allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu for PHP12,500.

Police seized five more sachets, five knot-tied plastic packs of suspected shabu, and several non-drug items.

Capt. Glenn Soliman, RPDEU-6 team leader, said the seized drugs weighed approximately 305 grams with an estimated street value of PHP2,074,000.

Soliman said Jerbelle is an ex-convict who previously served time at the New Bilibid Prison for frustrated murder.

Sander, on the other hand, had no prior criminal record.

According to police, Jerbelle served as the supplier and “bodegero” or stock keeper of the illegal drugs, while Sander acted as his distributor.

Intelligence reports indicated that Jerbelle sourced his supply through contacts made while imprisoned at the NBP.

The two reportedly operated across Iloilo City and Iloilo province.

They are now in police custody and will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Meanwhile, two motorcycle taxi riders were arrested in a buy-bust operation on the night of June 16 in Barangay Loboc, Lapuz, Iloilo City.

The suspects, identified only by the aliases Janron, 35, of Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz, and Rodolfo, 31, of Barangay Lapuz Norte, were caught during an anti-illegal drug operation.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office–City Drug Enforcement Unit, along with the PNP Drug Enforcement Group and Iloilo City Police Station 8, conducted the sting operation.

The two allegedly conspired to sell a sachet of suspected shabu worth PHP8,000.

Police said the suspects also yielded four more sachets, four knot-tied plastic packs of suspected shabu, one sachet of suspected marijuana, and several non-drug items.

Capt. Ryan Christ Inot, ICPO-CDEU team leader, said the seized shabu weighed about 125 grams, with a street value of PHP850,000, while the 20 grams of marijuana was valued at PHP3,000.

The suspects had been under surveillance for three weeks prior to the operation.

Inot said Rodolfo had been previously arrested in 2023 for visiting a drug den, served his sentence, and was released a year later.

This was Janron’s first arrest, according to police.

Authorities believe the suspects sourced their supply from another drug personality based in Iloilo City.

Both men are now in custody and will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.