P476K DRUG STING: ‘Shabu courier’ worked for ex-cons in drug trade

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A suspected courier for a drug gang was arrested late afternoon of Nov 11, 2021 in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Rhaniel Refugio, 27, was nabbed at Barangay San Isidro, La Paz, where he also resides, after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P15,000 to an undercover cop.

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (RPDEU-6), together with operatives from Iloilo City Police Stations 2 and 3, the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 6 (RHPU-6) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-6’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Team conducted the sting operation.

Recovered from Refugio were paper envelopes wrapped with color brown packing tape containing 13 sachets of suspected shabu, the marked money, and an Android mobile phone.

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, RPDEU-6 chief, said that the shabu seized from the suspect weighed around 70 grams and valued at around P476,000.

Darroca said Refugio worked as an alleged courier for a group of ex-convicts who went into drug pushing.

The group has a small circle and its members had been incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison. They apparently used Refugio to front for the group since he was never arrested for drug peddling until Thursday.

“I think the trend of drug groups now is to use those who have no records to act as their courier,” Darroca said.

A big volume of illegal drugs was taken from the suspect, as he was also about to deliver the supply to other customers when he was arrested.

Refugio is now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).