22 arrested in drug buy-bust operation in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-two people, including five minors, were arrested in a buy-bust operation, early Monday, at the house of a female drug peddler in Quezon City, which doubled as a gambling den, the police said.

Shabu (methampetamine hydrochloride) worth P600,000 was seized in the raid at the house of Michelle Ibanez, 35, at Lanao and Libyan Streets at the Salaam Compound in Barangay (village) Culiat.

Senior Superintendent Richard Albano, Quezon City Police District director, said Ibanez and her live-in partner were allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

After three days of surveillance, operatives of the District Anti Illegal Drugs unit conducted a buy bust at the woman’s home at around 4 am Monday.

However, Ibanez’s live-in-partner, Umda Hadjirul, was not around.

Ibanez was caught selling P1,000 worth of shabu to a police operative acting as a poseur buyer.

A raid conducted after the buy-bust led to the arrest of 22 persons, including five minors, who were either using illegal drugs or engaged in gambling at that time.

Police Director Leonardo Espina, National Capital Region Police Office chief, said that of those arrested, 17 were male, while the rest were female.

They were “arrested in the act of using illegal drugs while playing VK inside the shanty,” Espina said.

Senior Inspector Roberto Razon, DAID head, alleged that Ibanez has been using her home as an illegal drugs and gambling den.

The five minors, all boys, were aged 13 to 17 years old. Albano said the children were possibly used in the illegal drug trade.

Seized in the raid were 100 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P600,000; a hand grenade; three pen guns; a fan knife; a Japanese sword; a weighing scale used in measuring shabu; drug paraphernalia; and eight illegal games machines.

Also recovered were a pair of car license plate and three motorcycle license plates.

The operation was carried out following a tip from a resident of the Salaam Compound.

Albano thanked the residents, who he said were “not condoning the illegal drugs activities in their neighborhood.”