Couple nabbed in P530-K ‘shabu’ bust

A couple was arrested in a buy-bust at their apartment in Purok Candelaria, Barangay Sum-ag here on Thursday which resulted in the seizure of 73 grams of suspected shabu worth P530,400. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office)

By Glazyl Masculino

BACOLOD City – More than half a million worth of suspected shabu was seized from a couple in a buy-bust at their apartment in Purok Candelaria, Barangay Sum-ag here last Thursday.

Arrested were Gabriel Llenos Jr., 40; and Geraldine Bawa-an, 38, a teacher, both residents of the said village who are high value individuals, according to the police.

Operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) seized from the couple 73 grams of suspected shabu worth P530,400, the P1,500 marked money, and P200.

Police Lieutenant Joeven Mogato, CDEU head, said Llenos and Bawa-an left their respective families to live together as they allegedly engaged in the illegal drug trade.

Mogato said that Llenos was released from jail in March this year after he was arrested for a drug offense in 2016. However, Mogato has no idea how he got out of jail.

Based on their monitoring, Llenos continued his alleged transactions in the illegal drug trade while in jail through Bawa-an.

“Bale ang baye ang gina sugo niya sa transactions sagwa,” Mogato said, adding that the couple has a runner or “kabayo” that delivers the item to them.

Mogato said the contraband was believed to be sourced outside Negros Occidental, while the couple repacks and sell the items here.

The couple is detained at Police Station 9 for the filing of drug charges. Both have yet to be reached for comment.