BACOLOD CITY – The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region is monitoring a newly identified drug group allegedly operating within the region.

Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, said the group likely has roots outside the region but maintains local links.

“We’ve detected a new group, but we’re still studying it,” Ibay said.

He said investigations are ongoing to dismantle its network.

The possibility of a newbie drug syndicate in NIR popped up in the wake of recent large-scale anti-drug operations, including the seizure of suspected shabu worth P10.2-million in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

Ibay noted that Negros Island may be increasingly used as a transshipment point due to its multiple access routes.

To counter this, police ramped up collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime Group, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Weekly coordination meetings are being held to evaluate and enhance anti-drug operations.

Ibay attributed recent arrests to strong intelligence work and emphasized that authorities are not only focusing on cutting drug supply and demand but are also working to trace operations back to key financiers and distributors.

“Illegal drugs persist because of how lucrative the trade is,” Ibay said. “We’re not stopping at arrests—we’re connecting the dots to dismantle entire networks.”