ILOILO City – In a buy-bust operation on Commission Civil Street, Barangay Benedicto, Jaro district, joint operatives of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 6 and Jaro police station seized P1,156,000 worth of suspected shabu.
They also arrested two drug suspects around 11:09 p.m. on July 12.
The suspects were Gian Paolo Riosa, 39, of Barangay Poblacion, Banate Iloilo and temporarily residing in Barangay Benedicto, Jaro; and Sachiko Nakata, 33, of Barangay Calumpang, Molo district.
According to Lieutenant Glenn Soliman of RDEU-6, the suspects were placed under more than a week of surveillance prior to the buy-bust.
The police described Riosa as a “high value” suspect while Nakata as s “street level” drug pushing suspect.
They were arrested after selling a sachet to a poseur buyer for P20,000.
“We were able to get an asset close to the suspects that’s why we were able to negotiate to buy P20,000 worth of shabu,” Soliman said.
Riosa was previously arrested and jailed in 2016 also for illegal drugs and released on 2018, police said.
“Didto nya nakilala ang boyfriend ni Nakata sa jail and when he was released nag connive na silang dalawa at ang source ay from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, tapos may drop-off place sila kung diin kuhaon ang items,” Soliman added.
The total illegal drug recovered weighed more or less 170 grams.
Other recoveries were one digital weighing scale and other non-drug items.
Western Visayas police director Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo commended the combined operating personnel for another laudable accomplishment.
The suspects were taken to the Jaro police station. They face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./PN
