Trike driver falls in P204K drug sting

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Members of Estancia Municipal Police Station arrested a person in an anti-narcotics operation late evening of September 16, 2023.

Police identified the suspect as Je-Ar dela Cruz, 38, of Barangay Daculan, Estancia, Iloilo.

Anti-drug operatives collared dela Cruz in a buy-bust operation at 11:00 p.m. Saturday at Purok 1, Barangay Gogo, Estancia.

Lieutenant Renzo Martinez, Estancia police chief, said dela Cruz sold a sachet of suspected shabu for P3,000.

When he was later frisked, ten more sachets of suspected shabu were recovered from his possession.

The seized drugs weighed around 30 grams and were valued at P204,000.

Martinez said that it was dela Cruz’s first drug-related arrest.

He was placed under monitoring for more than two months before the buy-bust operation was conducted.

Dela Cruz’s name came up after he was linked as a downline to a drug group based in Estancia town.

The suspect is now detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).