The Iloilo City Drug Enforcement Unit (ICDEU) was on the process of verifying an information that the six employees of a construction firm at Iloilo Fish Port Complex caught in a drug buy-bust operation have other co-workers involved in the illegal drugs trade.

However, ICDEU said, that when around 30 construction workers shunned a drug test, their demeanor already gave clues that the allegation has a grain of truth to it.

The 30 workers left the workplace immediately after they learned of the conduct of a drug test, ICDEU disclosed. 

Suspected shabu seized from the six employees arrested on September 17, 2024 was estimated to be worth P1.3 million.

According to Capt. Ryan Christ Inot, ICDEU team leader, the construction workers are from Bacolod City, Province of Negros Occidental, and Province of Antique.

The management of the fish port said that the construction workers resided inside the complex for about three years already.

As for Dr. Justo Anaquita Jr., public information officer of the fish port, the suspects are workers of a contractor of ongoing development projects on structures and facilities at the complex.

Aside from the construction workers, ICDEU has monitored other persons in the vicinity of the fish port complex and employees of a brokerage business suspected to be involved in illegal activities.

Following the arrest of the six construction workers and the avoidance made by at least 30 workers to undergo a drug test, the fish port management has given reportedly the contractor a deadline to have the workers replaced and to ensure that new workers are negative of illegal drugs use and any involvement in the illegal drugs trade.