Some P3.5 million worth of crystal methamphetamine, locally known as shabu, were seized from a couple in a buy-bust operation conducted in Barangay Poblacion, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo on Saturday morning, July 29.
The suspects were identified as Salvador Ruiz, 34, of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City and his live-in partner, Vanessa Buison, 36, of Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala, Iloilo City.
The operation, which resulted in the confiscation of 515 grams of shabu, was conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-6) together with the Sta. Barbara Municipal Police Station.
“It’s a big recovery. If I’m not mistaken, this is the biggest so far in Iloilo. Probably they are the source of street-level pushers in the city and neighboring provinces,” PDEA-6 acting spokesperson Brad Abonado said in a report by the Philippine News Agency.
According to Abonado, Ruiz and Buison are former detainees at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City for homicide and Correctional Institution for Women for a similar illegal drug case.
The suspects are in the custodial facility of PDEA-6. They will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022.IMT
