P523-K worth of ‘shabu’ meant for MassKara seized

A high value individual was arrested for the seizure of P523,000 worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Barangay 1, Bacolod City Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) here seized 77 grams of suspected shabu worth P523,000 from a high value individual (HVI) during a buy-bust operation at Purok Tangigue, Barangay 1 here yesterday.

Police Lieutenant Joven Mogato, CDEU head, identified the subject as Joelibert Sancho, 31, of the said village.

Mogato said that Sancho was placed under monitoring for a week, following the apprehension of his two friends who were busted with P8.5 million worth of suspected shabu in the said village on Oct. 13.

The huge volume of illegal drugs were believed to be meant for the recently concluded MassKara Festival here.

In fact, Mogato said the seized drugs from Sancho were reportedly part of the remaining supply of his two friends.

Mogato said that Sancho was previously arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia in 2018 and was released nine months later through plea bargaining.

“Ka receive kami info na nagbalik naman siya sa pagbaligya,” Mogato said.

Mogato said the illegal drugs were reportedly sourced out outside the province.

Police also recovered from Sancho the P1,000 marked money, and P250.

Drug charges are being readied against Sancho, who is detained at Police Station 2.