8 suspects, over P800,000 in meth netted in 24-hr sweep in Iloilo City
INQUIRER FILES
ILOILO CITY – A 24-hour sweep by the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) resulted in the arrest of eight individuals and the seizure of suspected shabu valued at over P 800,000, underscoring the city’s ongoing crackdown on illegal drugs.
From 6 a.m. on June 17 to 6 a.m. on June 18, ICPO units conducted seven separate anti-illegal drug operations across the city. The coordinated efforts yielded about 119 grams of suspected shabu, with a total value of P 809,200.
READ: Ex-cop, 2 others nabbed in Iloilo City drug bust; P1.36M shabu seized
The suspects apprehended include two High-Value Individuals (HVIs) and six Street-Level Individuals (SLIs).
The most significant seizure occurred during a buy-bust operation late Wednesday evening in Arevalo. At around 9:40 p.m. in Zone 3, Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, joint forces apprehended the two HVIs, identified only by their aliases “RJ,” 40, and “Kana,” 37. Both suspects are temporarily residing in Arevalo.
This major bust was executed by the ICPO’s City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) in coordination with the Iloilo Maritime Police Station, the ICPO Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, and the Police Station 6 – Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET). Operatives confiscated roughly 70 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P 476,000 from the pair, along with buy-bust money and other evidence.
All eight arrested individuals are currently in police custody and will face charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Police Brigadier General Randulf T. Tuaño, Acting Regional Director of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6), commended the ICPO for the successful operations, highlighting their intelligence-driven approach.
“The arrest of eight drug personalities and the seizure of more than PHP 800,000 worth of suspected shabu in just 24 hours reflect the strong operational focus and commitment of the Iloilo City Police Office in protecting communities from the threat of illegal drugs,” said Tuaño. /jpv
