BACOLOD City – Police seized an estimated P5.44 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested a married couple during a buy-bust operation in Barangay 35 here early Saturday, July 25, in what authorities described as one of the city’s biggest illegal drug seizures this year.
The operation was conducted by personnel of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Police Station 1 at about 2:43 a.m. in Purok Mabinuligon.
The suspects were identified only by their aliases “Gard,” 44, and “Ann,” 31, both residents of Barangay Singcang-Airport.
Police classified the couple as high-value individuals (HVIs) involved in the illegal drug trade.
According to the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant indicating that the suspects had been distributing illegal drugs in Barangays 35 and Singcang-Airport.
Following surveillance, undercover operatives arranged a controlled purchase that resulted in the couple’s arrest.
Seized during the operation were about 800 grams of suspected shabu, including the sachet allegedly sold to a police poseur-buyer and several other plastic sachets containing the suspected illegal substance.
Police also recovered the marked buy-bust money, an eco bag, a coin purse, and a motorcycle with a sidecar allegedly used by the suspects in their illegal activities.
The confiscated drugs have an estimated standard drug price of P5.44 million, police said.
The suspects are being held at Police Station 1 while charges for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared.
BCPO Director Col. Eugene Rebadomia commended the operating team for what he described as a significant accomplishment in the campaign against illegal drugs.
“These successful operations demonstrate our unwavering resolve to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs,” Rebadomia said.
He added that the BCPO remains committed to pursuing individuals involved in the illegal drug trade and urged the public to continue reporting illegal activities, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in the fight against criminality.
Meanwhile, PRO-NIR said it will sustain high-impact anti-drug operations to ensure that drug personalities and criminal groups are relentlessly pursued and brought to justice./PN
