SEIZED. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Western Visayas Seaport Interdiction Unit operatives seize three packs of suspected shabu worth PHP1.02 million from a passenger at the Bredco port in Bacolod City on Wednesday (Sept. 14, 2022). The suspect was identified as Marcial de los Santos, 49, of La Paz district, Iloilo City. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Western Visayas)
BACOLOD CITY – Authorities arrest an Iloilo City resident after he yielded three packs of suspected shabu worth PHP1.02 million at the Bredco port here on Wednesday afternoon.
Marcial de los Santos, 49, of La Paz district, was about to travel home on board a roll-on, roll-off vessel when he was intercepted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Western Visayas Seaport Interdiction Unit.
Authorities said they closely watched the port after receiving information that illegal drugs would be transported on that day.
When the suspect was about to board at around 2:30 p.m., he refused to go through the baggage scanner, prompting security personnel to separate him from the other passengers.
A sniffer dog detected the presence of illegal drugs in his luggage and when the operatives asked him to empty the contents of his bag, they found illegal drugs stashed inside black socks.
The prohibited substance weighed about 150 grams valued at PHP6,800 per gram.
In a media interview, De los Santos said he arrived in Bacolod on Tuesday to visit his relatives.
He added that when he was set to go home, a person whom he did not identify, asked him to bring the items and was told he would be paid upon their meet-up in Iloilo City.
He claimed he did not know the person and he was unaware he was transporting illegal drugs.
De los Santos will be charged with the violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
