• CHERYL G. CRUZ / THERESA MAE DULMAN
Police and PDEA operatives seized around P9.89 million in suspected shabu over the weekend in Bacolod City, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, and in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
A high-value individual (HVI), 21, of Purok Sto. Domingo in Barangay Bata, Bacolod, yielded about 350 grams of suspected shabu, valued at P2,380,000 during a buy-bust operation at Palanca Road, Barangay 12, at about 1:16 a.m. Aug. 16.
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said the suspect was a virtual assistant and had been distributing illegal drugs to his customers in barangays 12, 16, and 35, and neighboring barangays.
The operation was led by personnel of Bacolod Police Station 1, and resulted in the seizure of suspected shabu in four knot-tied plastic bags, five big sachets, and two elongated sachets, a body bag, and P1,000 in buy-bust money.
Alias “Jimmy”, 41, a driver from Barangay Bata, Bacolod, meanwhile, yielded 620 grams of suspected shabu, valued at 4,216,000, in a drug-bust in Barangay Villamonte at around 2:44 a.m. Aug. 15.
The operation, led by operatives of PDEA Regional Office-Negros Island Region, in collaboration with the PNP Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit-NIR, yielded six knot-tied transparent plastic bags and four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu, a pink belt bag, one smartphone, P15,000 in cash, and a motorcycle, the PDEA-NIR said Aug. 16.
In San Carlos City, about 335.87 grams of suspected shabu, with a standard drug price of P2,283,916, were confiscated in a buy-bust operation by the San Carlos City Police Station personnel at around 7:08 p.m. Aug. 14, in Purok Lubi, Barangay 1.
The PRO-NIR said that alias “Ry”, 27, a store and junkshop owner, has been using his sari-sari store as front for his illegal activities.
Recovered during the operation were 18 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, including the buy-bust item; a pink bag, and P900 in buy-bust money.
Earlier that day, a newly-identified HVI, alias “Yur”, 18, was also arrested in a buy-bust operation in Purok Gaisano, Barangay Alijis, Bacolod. Recovered were 24 plastic sachets of suspected shabu, weighing at least 100 grams, and worth P680,000; P1,000 in buy-bust money, and P2,500 in drug proceeds.
The PRO-NIR said the suspect had been arrested for drug violation as a minor in 2023, and found selling illegal drugs in his house.
Meanwhile, a joint buy-bust operation by the PDEA RO-NIR Negros Oriental Provincial Office and the Sibulan Municipal Police Station resulted in the arrest of alias “Dodong”, 31, of Dumaguete City, and the seizure of around 50 grams of suspected shabu, worth 340,000, in Purok 4, Barangay Boloc-Boloc, Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
All suspects are in custody and facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PRO-NIR director, P/Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, commended the operating personnel for their successful operations, and stressed that the regional office remains unyielding in its campaign against illegal drugs and determined to dismantle the networks that threaten the safety and security of communities. | CGC, TMD
