Nearly PHP 1-M Shabu Seized, Five Arrested

Police operatives arrested two men with PHP 544,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay 7, Bacolod City, early Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office)

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) intensified its anti-drug campaign early Thursday, seizing PHP 958,800 worth of suspected shabu in separate buy-bust operations and arresting five individuals.

The first operation, conducted by Police Station 2 at 12:47 a.m. along 6th Street, Barangay 7, resulted in the apprehension of two suspects: alias “Jaypee,” 20, of Barangay 2, and alias “Edgar,” 29, of Barangay 10.

The suspects allegedly yielded 80 grams of suspected shabu with a street value of PHP 544,000.

Police Major Eugene Tolentino, head of Police Station 2, stated that “Jaypee” has been linked to illegal drug activities since his teenage years, initially as a user before reportedly engaging in drug distribution.

Tolentino categorized the two suspects as a high-value individual (HVI) and a street-level individual, respectively.

Two hours later, the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) launched another operation at 2:35 a.m. in Purok Bayanihan, Barangay Villamonte.

This led to the arrest of alias “Boyboy,” 36, his live-in partner “Mabel,” 28, and their companion alias “Adonis,” 37, a tricycle driver, all residents of the area.

Police Lt. Richard Legada, assistant CDEU chief, revealed that Boyboy, tagged as an HVI, was the primary target of the operation. Mabel allegedly conspired with him in drug dealings, while Adonis was caught in possession of illegal drugs.

The three suspects were found with 61 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 414,800.

Legada noted that Adonis had previously been arrested for a drug-related offense in February 2023 and was released from jail in September of the same year.

All three suspects are currently detained at Police Station 4.