SEIZED. Drug operatives seize 500 grams of shabu from alias “Tonton” and his accomplices in a buy-bust in Brgy. Zamora-Melliza on Jan. 22, 2024. Lt. Col. Antonio Benitez Jr., chief of the City Drugs Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), said that since the start of January, various anti-drug operations yielded over 3,000 grams of shabu intended for the Dinagyang Festival celebration. (Photo courtesy of CDEU)
ILOILO CITY – At least 22 anti-drug operations have been conducted since the start of the year and yielded over 3,000 grams of shabu valued at around PHP21.3 million.
Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) City Drugs Enforcement Unit (CDEU) chief Lt. Col. Antonio Benitez Jr. said these operations also led to the arrest of 37 suspected drug personalities.
Benitez, in an interview on Wednesday, said the confiscation would lessen the volume of drugs on the street and the possibility of committing crimes for being high on drugs during this week’s celebration of the Dinagyang Festival.
“Our monitoring showed attempts to smuggle illegal drugs for party-goers and users during the festival,” he said.
Quoting those arrested, Benitez said the drugs were sourced from Manila and allegedly coursed through the Bilibid Prison.
He said they arrested personalities who established contacts inside the jail and pursued illegal activity after their release.
Others were only convinced to serve as “bodegeros” or caretakers of drugs shipped to Iloilo in exchange for a huge amount of money.
“We continue to strengthen our intelligence monitoring and surveillance operations of possible personalities who will try to ship, smuggle, and sell illegal drugs in the city,” Benitez said.
The latest arrest was the PHP3.4 million worth of shabu weighing 500 grams from three high-value individuals in Brgy. Zamora-Melliza on Jan. 22.
Benitez said the main suspect identified as alias “Tonton” is the son of an illegal drug personality who is currently in jail for a drug case. (PNA)
