A buy-bust operation conducted by the police in Iloilo City resulted in the confiscation of 215 grams of suspected shabu valued at P1.46 million and the arrest of six suspects yesterday.

The operation happened inside a hotel in Barangay Hipodromo around 1:05 a.m. with Jeffrey B. Pamosino alias Japz, 37 years old, and a resident of Barangay Lapuz Norte as their main target.

“We have subjected the suspect to surveillance for three months. Once he had an item, his style was to check in a hotel where the distribution transpires,” Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director, Joeresty Coronica said in a media interview.

Coronica added that Pamosino found the hotel “strategic” because he could easily identify their buyer and conceal their illegal stuff.

He got his stocks from a certain alias Arnold, a resident of Barangay Bakhaw, who had already fled the village due to the police operations.

“He was caught with more than 50 grams of suspected shabu, so automatically he belongs to a high-value individual,” Coronica said, adding that the suspect is a wholesaler of illegal drugs.

The City Drugs Enforcement Unit also arrested three more high-value individuals who were with Pamosino, namely Joel Libuna, 36 years old, and Vincent Paul Caturas, 23 years old, both from Barangay Sinikway; and Philip Esmao, 30 years old, from Barangay Nabitasan.

Also captured were Abbie Natinga, 20 years old, from Barangay Crossing Dapuyan and Jenelyn Dela Peña of Barangay North Baluarte, 46 years old, both street-level individuals.

The suspects are in the custody of the Iloilo City Police Station 1 and will be facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)