P3.87-M worth of ‘shabu’ seized in drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Close to P4 million worth of suspected shabu was seized from a live-in couple during a police anti-narcotics operation early morning of August 2 at Jaro, Iloilo City.

The suspects were identified as Rene Paches, 41, of Barangay Man-it, Passi City, Iloilo and Jean Narciso, 29, who hails from Barangay Aglalana, Dumarao, Capiz.

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU)-6, together with the Iloilo City Police Station 3 and the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU) led the operation.

The couple was nabbed for allegedly selling two sachets of suspected shabu worth P35,000 on Jayme St., Barangay Luna, Jaro at around 3:20 a.m. Tuesday.

When police frisked Paches, 11 more knot-tied plastic bags of suspected shabu, P1,000 cash, a mobile phone, and an eco-bag were seized from him.

Narciso yielded a pouch with five sachets of suspected shabu, P300 cash, and other non-drug items.

Captain Glenn Soliman, RPDEU-6 team leader, said the seized drugs weighed around 570 grams and were valued at P3,876,000.

While the couple is based in Passi City, their scope of operations is in Iloilo City.

They allegedly worked as “bodegero,” or drug supply keepers for a certain Jhonrey Prevendido from Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

Paches even had Prevendido’s full name tattooed on his arm.

The couple was allegedly in charge of distributing drugs to street peddlers operating in the districts of Jaro and Mandurriao.

Reports said Paches was arrested for a drug-related offense in 2016 and had been incarcerated for around four years.

Soliman is verifying Narciso’s background since the woman allegedly used several names and aliases.

The confiscated items from Paches and Narciso were one of the biggest drug hauls in Iloilo recently.

The couple will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

On Saturday, operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Regional Special Enforcement Team, together with members of the Sta. Barbara Municipal Police Station collared the couple after selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P14,500 in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

Salvador Ruiz, 33, of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City and Vanessa Buison, 36, of Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala, City Proper, Iloilo City, were arrested at their rented place in Taft Street, Barangay Zone 4, Sta. Barbara.

They yielded around P3.5 million worth of illegal drugs.