By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Police arrested 16 individuals and seized PHP1,812,160 worth of suspected shabu in a series of anti-illegal drug operations across Negros Occidental over the past two days.
The largest drug recoveries were reported in E.B. Magalona, Murcia, and Sagay City, where authorities confiscated a total of PHP1,448,400 worth of illegal drugs.
A 47-year-old unemployed man, identified only as “Taboy”, was arrested in Barangay Gahit, E.B. Magalona on Monday after police recovered 100 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP680,000.
The suspect also allegedly yielded a .38 caliber revolver with three rounds of ammunition.
Police Major Eric Doronila, E.B. Magalona police chief, said the suspect was initially subjected to a buy-bust operation following reports of his involvement in illegal drug activities.
After the drug bust, police obtained a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition due to multiple complaints of threats and indiscriminate firing in the area.
Doronila said the suspect had been previously arrested for a drug offense but was later released through a plea bargaining agreement.
In Barangay Poblacion 1, Sagay City, police arrested two women, aged 20 and 46, after they were caught with 63 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP428,400 on Monday.
Authorities also recovered four lighters, a pair of scissors, a pipe, and two weighing scales from the suspects.
On Tuesday, a 30-year-old man was arrested in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, after police confiscated 50 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP340,000.
Police Major Sherwin Fernandez, Murcia police chief, said the suspect was a newly identified individual who was placed under surveillance after his name was mentioned by previously arrested drug suspects.
Twelve other individuals, including a job order casual government employee, were arrested in separate buy-bust operations that led to the confiscation of PHP363,760 worth of suspected shabu on Monday.
The operations took place in the cities of Escalante, Kabankalan, Sagay, Silay, and Bago, as well as in the towns of Toboso, Hinoba-an, and Hinigaran.
The suspects are now detained and will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
