‘SHABU BODEGERO’ BUSTED: Group could be disposing P100M in drugs monthly – RPDEU

By Jennifer P. Rendon

An alleged stockkeeper and courier of a “resurrected” drug group was arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation afternoon of June 28, 2021 in Molo, Iloilo City.

Kenth Gutas, 35, of Barangay San Pedro, Molo district, allegedly sold two sachets of suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer for P40,000.

Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (RPDEU-6), together with Molo Police Station and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 6 (CIDG-6’s Anti-Illegal Drug Team, led the operation following reports that Gutas, a tricycle driver, had been acting as “bodegero” or stockkeeper for a drug group.

Lieutenant Mark Anthony Darroca, RPDEU-6 chief, said that the suspect is considered a high-value individual (HVI) drug personality.

“He doesn’t really peddle illegal drugs. He was tasked to keep and deliver the supply to their downlines,” he said.

Gutas was to deliver an order when he was collared 3 p.m. Monday at Barangay San Pedro.

Recovered from him were 10 sachets of suspected shabu, a mobile phone, a weighing scale, a sling bag, a backpack, a wooden box, a cellphone box, a wallet, a pale pouch, several transparent sachets of suspected shabu, and a Honda motorcycle.

Darroca said the seized substance weighed around 60 grams and has an estimated value of P408,000.

It was gathered that Darroca worked for a drug group that used to be on the police radar.

“In 2020, we did not monitor them. But lately, we have been receiving reports that the group is back in business,” he said.

The group allegedly came back big as police monitored that they were bringing in 1 to 2 kilos of shabu every week.

It is possible that they could dispose around P100 million worth of illegal drugs in a month, Darroca said.

A kilo of shabu could be distributed to 10 downlines or peddlers.

“That’s why, we’ve been doing heightened operations not only to the group but to their underlines,” he said.

Darroca declined to give more details about the group due to follow-up operations.

In the meantime, they believe that Gutas might squeal more information about his cohorts.

Meanwhile, two men were arrested in a police anti-drug operations evening of June 27 at Molo, Iloilo City.

Val Husayan, 36, a resident of Sta. Rita Street, Janiuay, Iloilo, and Samuel Nobleza, 47, of Rizal Street Guimbal, Iloilo allegedly colluded in selling a sachet of suspected shabu worth P5,100 to a police undercover agent.

Members of Molo Police Station collared the suspects around 9:40 p.m. Sunday at M.H del Pilar Street in Barangay Taal.

Their arrest happened after two weeks of surveillance against Husayan, the main target of the drug sting operation.

Recovered from the suspects were three more sachets of suspected shabu, two mobile phones, and a Yamaha motorcycle.

Police valued the seized substance at P75,000.

The arresting team noted that the two suspects resisted arrest during the operation.

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) classified the two arrested persons as street level individual (SLI) drug personalities.

The suspects are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and resisting arrest.