A mother-and-daughter duo, both classified as high-value individuals (HVIs) in the regional drug trade, was arrested by authorities following a midnight buy-bust operation in Jaro district here on Tuesday.
Personnel from the Iloilo City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICPO-CDEU) conducted the sting at around 12:05 a.m. on April 21, in Barangay Simon Ledesma. The operation resulted in the seizure of roughly 70 grams of suspected shabu (meth) with a total estimated street value of P476,000.
The arrested individuals were identified by police under the aliases ‘Welnie,’ 64, and her daughter ‘Pani,’ 37. Both suspects are residents of Iloilo City and are currently unemployed. According to investigators, the pair had been under intense surveillance for nearly a month prior to the arrest.
The coordinated effort involved multiple units, including the Iloilo Maritime Police Station, the ICPO Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, and the Station Drug Enforcement Team of Police Station 9.
In addition to the 10 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing the suspected narcotics, authorities recovered the marked buy-bust money and various non-drug related items from the scene.
Police Brigadier General Josefino D. Ligan, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 6, lauded the joint task force for the successful operation.
Welnie and Pani are currently in police custody.