By Jennifer P. Rendon
A fruit vendor was arrested in a police anti-illegal drug operation in Jaro, Iloilo City afternoon of Aug 19, 2022.
The suspect, 25-year-old Ivan Pedrajas, is a resident of Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
It can be noted that Bakhaw was one of the two barangays where the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) deployed additional officers to avert the resurgence of the illegal drug trade.
Members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (RPDEU-6), together with operatives from the Regional Intelligence Division 6 (RID-6) and Iloilo City Police Station 3, conducted the operation 2:25 p.m. of Aug 19 at the suspect’s fruit stand on El 98 Street, Barangay Taytay Zone 2, Jaro.
Pedrajas was arrested after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu for P37,000.
Police also seized from him three sachets and one knot-tied plastic containing suspected shabu, the marked money, and other non-drug items.
Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez, Jr., RPDEU-6 chief, said the seized drugs weighed around 130 grams and were valued at P884,000.
Benitez said the suspect had no prior police records. But another Bakhaw resident tipped the police about his activities.
Benitez said Pedrajas allegedly sourced his stocks from Metro Manila through a certain Manang.
He allegedly used his being a fruit vendor as a cover for selling illegal drugs.
Pedrajas is now detained and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
