Over PHP 1 million worth of shabu seized in Iloilo City bust

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By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two individuals were arrested with more than PHP 1 million worth of suspected shabu during a police anti-narcotics operation in Iloilo City.

Alias “Ramon,” 24, and alias “Leo,” 27, were apprehended late evening of Sept. 12 in the parking lot of a boutique hotel in the City Proper district.

The suspects, both residents of Iloilo City, allegedly sold two sachets of suspected shabu to an undercover officer for PHP 30,000.

Following the transaction, members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU)-6 and the Iloilo City Police Station 1 arrested the two and recovered nine more sachets of suspected shabu.

Lieutenant Glenn Soliman, RPDEU-6 team leader, said the seized illegal drugs weighed around 180 grams and had an estimated street value of PHP 1.224 million.

Authorities also confiscated a blue Hyundai Tucson SUV, an improvised glass tooter with suspected shabu residue, an Android phone, PHP 1,000 in cash, a digital weighing scale, a notepad, and other non-drug-related items.

Soliman said the two suspects are considered high-value targets and had been under surveillance following the arrest of their known associates—alias “Nico,” 28, and alias “Jake,” 29—during a separate buy-bust operation on Aug. 4, 2022, in La Paz district.

“Nico” and “Jake,” along with alias “Vince,” 28, and alias “Allan,” 28, were arrested in that earlier operation, which yielded an estimated PHP 1.6 million worth of shabu. All four were also residents of Iloilo province.

Soliman said “Nico” and “Leo” are close associates, and “Ramon” reportedly met “Leo” while they were previously detained at the same time.

It was learned that “Ramon” had been arrested in 2018 in Jaro district in a similar anti-narcotics operation, but the case was eventually dismissed.

Before their Sept. 12 arrest, the suspects initially agreed to meet in Mandurriao district but later changed the location to the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz. Due to delays, they reportedly considered canceling the transaction before finally proceeding at the hotel parking lot.

Soliman said the pair may have secured around 300 grams of shabu the weekend before their arrest.

They are believed to have ties with the Happy Go Lucky Gang, a predominantly Ilonggo drug group reportedly operating out of the New Bilibid Prison.

Following the arrival of their drug supply from Metro Manila, the suspects checked into the hotel on Sunday and planned to stay for a week.

Hotel employees reported seeing multiple individuals entering and leaving the suspects’ room during their stay, and both suspects were seen leaving the premises during the early hours of the morning.

The seized vehicle was reportedly registered under a networking company that “Leo” is affiliated with, though he declined to disclose the company’s name.

Both suspects are now in police custody and will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.