Teen Arrested in Iloilo Drug Bust With PHP374K Shabu

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 17-year-old boy allegedly working as a drug courier was arrested in a police anti-narcotics operation on the afternoon of Feb. 28 in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The suspect, identified only as alias “Jherick,” is a resident of Barangay East Valencia, Buenavista, Guimaras.

Police arrested Jherick in a buy-bust operation at Esplanade 3 in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao.

Members of Iloilo City Police Station 10 (ICPS10) apprehended him after he handed over a sachet of suspected shabu worth PHP17,000 to an undercover officer.

During a frisk search, police recovered 10 more sachets of suspected shabu and several non-drug items from the suspect.

Captain Val Cambel, ICPS10 chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 55 grams, with an estimated standard drug price of PHP374,000.

Cambel said Jherick was not on their watchlist of illegal drug personalities.

Police were also surprised that a minor was the one delivering the drugs.

Investigators found that the drug transaction was coordinated from inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

A confidential informant had arranged a deal with an NBP inmate for the sale of shabu.

The illegal drugs were reportedly stored in a bodega in Iloilo province.

Jherick was hired as a runner to deliver the shabu to clients.

He was paid PHP1,500 per transaction, plus transportation expenses.

Authorities have not yet determined how Jherick became involved with the NBP inmate.

The suspect is now in police custody for proper case disposition.