ILLEGAL DRUGS. Policemen confiscate 150 grams of shabu valued at PHP1.02 million from 43-year-old suspect Praud Joan Animas during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Lanit in Jaro district, Iloilo City on Feb. 18, 2023. The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has netted over 210 grams of shabu valued at more than PHP1.428 million in a series of anti-drug operations from Jan. 27 to Feb. 19 based on its accomplishment report. (Photo courtesy of ICPO)
ILOILO CITY – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has netted over 210 grams of shabu valued at more than PHP1.428 million in 23 anti-drug operations from Jan. 27 to Feb. 19 this year.
Data from the ICPO showed the series of operations resulted in the arrest of 34 suspects; six were identified as high-value individual, 13 as street-level individuals and15 were not on the drug list.
ICPO officer-in-charge, Col. Joeresty Coronica, in an interview on Monday, said the buy-bust operation in Barangay Lanit in Jaro district on Saturday was the biggest haul where the operatives led by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) confiscated 150 grams of shabu valued at PHP1.02 million from suspect 43-year-old Praud Joan Animas, a resident of the village.
The suspect, considered a high-value individual, was connected to the drug operation in Barangay Bakhaw but transferred to another village following the intensified anti-drugs campaign in the area. He sells the drugs to street pushers at a lower price.
With his apprehension, the police are expecting that there will be a reduction of supply coming into the city.
“Based on information, he got his supply from Negros and Bacolod City,” Coronica added.
On January 25, the ICPO apprehended 32 drug personalities in a drug den in Bakhaw. This led to the relief of the former city director and the entire police personnel of the Mandurriao police district and the CDEU. (PNA)
