BACOLOD CITY – Operatives of the Bacolod City Police seized 2.1 kilos of suspected shabu, valued at P14.28 million, from two individuals during a buy-bust operation in Purok Camonsil, Barangay 3 on Saturday morning, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) reported.
The operation, conducted by Police Station 2, led to the arrest of alias John, 29, who works as a painter and is a resident of the village, and alias Mark, 34, a construction worker from Purok GK, Barangay Cabug.
In a statement, PRO-NIR Director Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardino said the latest accomplishment is part of the police drug enforcement teams' relentless and intelligence-driven operations across the region.
“We commend the operating units for the successful operation. Our aim is ensuring safer communities and preserving peace and order in the NIR,” he added.
Just before 3 a.m., the suspects sold to an undercover policeman P120,000 worth of suspected shabu, packed in a knot-tied transparent plastic bag.
During their arrest, operatives also confiscated a plastic pouch and 10 knot-tied transparent bags, all containing suspected shabu.
The two suspects are under the custody of Police Station 2 while charges against them are being prepared.
Police Major Eugene Tolentino, head of Police Station 2, said that it took them two weeks to monitor John, who they considered to be one of the alleged big suppliers of illegal drugs here and neighboring areas in Negros Occidental.
Tolentino said that John is a high-value individual and Mark is a street-level individual.
Police are verifying information that John had an arrest warrant for other offenses.
The successful operation in Barangay 3 came only days after the City Drug Enforcement Unit recovered suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of P28.56 million, from a woman during a sting operation at Purok Fatima, Barangay 31 on May 19.
Mayor Greg Gasataya lauded the efforts of authorities to intensify anti-illegal drug operations in this highly-urbanized city.
“This is why the city consistently supports our police force because they remain on top of the situation when it comes to law enforcement and the arrest of individuals involved in illegal drugs,” Gasataya said in a statement. (with a report from PNA)