By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Three individuals, including a barangay employee, were arrested over the weekend in separate anti-drug operations that yielded PHP1,162,800 worth of suspected shabu in this city and in Murcia, Negros Occidental.
Operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) arrested a suspect identified as “Akai” during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Handumanan on Sunday.
Confiscated from the 29-year-old suspect were 56 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP380,800.
Police Lt. Richard Legada, assistant CDEU chief, said Akai was listed in the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) as an alleged drug personality.
The CDEU classified him as a high-value individual (HVI).
On Saturday, CDEU operatives also arrested a 36-year-old suspect identified as “Mani,” a resident of Barangay Mansilingan.
Police recovered 65 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP442,000 during the operation.
Legada said Mani was a newly identified HVI, although not listed in the BADAC, and was working as a barangay driver.
The suspect claimed he had stopped selling illegal drugs, but police monitoring indicated he had resumed his involvement in the trade.
Legada added that a .38-caliber Armscor revolver with six live rounds was also recovered from the suspect, who claimed the firearm was pawned to him.
The suspect will face additional charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Also on Saturday, 38-year-old “Crisanto” was arrested in another buy-bust operation in Barangay Amayco, Murcia.
Police seized 50 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP340,000 and a .9mm revolver loaded with five rounds of live ammunition.
