PDEA continues crackdown in Iloilo's premiere night spot
Barely two weeks after conducting an anti-drug operation in the Smallville complex that resulted to the arrest of a suspected drug pusher, another alleged narcotics peddler was nabbed following a buy bust operation at the City’s premiere night spot.
In a text message, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officer-in-charge, Paul Ledesma told The News Today yesterday that combined operatives from the PDEA and the Iloilo City Mobile Group arrested Jonathan V. Nava, a resident of Oñate St., Mandurriao district around 1:35 a.m. Wednesday.
Authorities recovered five sachets of suspected shabu and P1,400 cash from Nava.
Nava’s arrest comes almost two weeks after the PDEA arrested Troy Prevendido following a buy bust operation also in Smallville complex last May 28. Authorities recovered shabu and cash from Prevendido, whose cousin, John Rey, was arrested earlier after he sold shabu to an undercover PDEA operative at a motel.
Yesterday’s operation was the fifth to be conducted at the Smallville area for this year, all of which turned positive.
Ledesma said that the series of anti-drug operations conducted at the Smallville complex reflects the rampant narcotics trade in the area, a relatively compact quarter along the Ninoy Aquino Avenue where posh clubs and night spots are clustered.
He said that their operations target ‘major drug personalities’ peddling narcotics to party-goers.
“Maybe after these series of operations, the drug pushers (operating in the Smallville complex) will go slow,” Ledesma said. With the series of operations, the PDEA expects that only the ‘runners’ of these drug personalities will be left, without their suppliers.