By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo) reported its largest drug haul of the year after confiscating PHP27.2 million worth of suspected shabu from a construction worker in Barangay Maslog, Sibulan on Wednesday.
Authorities allegedly caught “Eljin,” 50, a resident of Bais City, with about four kilos of illegal drugs in a buy-bust operation.
Police Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for Norppo, said the suspect was classified as a high-value individual who was allegedly assigned to store the contraband.
Polinar said the suspect claimed he was only asked to collect and keep the drugs, without knowing their origin or where and when they would be delivered.
The operation was carried out by joint elements of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Provincial Intelligence Unit, and Sibulan Municipal Police Station, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas.
Following the arrest, Polinar said the case underscores the need for intensified operations, as those involved in the drug trade are becoming more brazen.
He emphasized the importance of tracing the source of the shipment and understanding its intended distribution.
“This is what we need to look into and adjust our strategies in the anti-illegal drug campaign,” he said.
The suspect was charged with the sale and possession of dangerous drugs.
Norppo provincial director Police Col. Ronan Claravall said the operation delivered a major blow to the local illegal drug network.
The drug bust came just two days after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Western Visayas apprehended “Khent,” 23, in a buy-bust in Barangay Bantayanon, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
That operation allegedly yielded PHP13.6 million worth of suspected shabu.
Meanwhile, the City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office arrested another high-value individual in Purok Sigay, Barangay 2, on Wednesday night.
The suspect, identified as “Tata,” 35, of Barangay Handumanan, was temporarily staying at a relative’s home in the area.
Confiscated during the operation were 75 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP510,000.
Police Lt. Richard Legada, assistant chief of CDEU, said the suspect was a known drug surrenderer and was on the Barangay Handumanan drug watchlist.
Legada added that “Tata” had previously been arrested in 2012 for illegal gambling.
