Coconut vendor busted with P149,600 worth of ‘shabu’

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – A coconut vendor was apprehended by the police during a buy-bust operation at Purok Mabinuligon, Barangay Punta Taytay, early Monday.

The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Mikko Tajo from the same village, was caught with 22 grams of suspected shabu valued at P149,600.

Police Captain Joven Mogato, head of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), mentioned that Tajo had been under surveillance following community reports of his alleged illegal activities in the area.

Mogato noted that Tajo was known to frequently change locations whenever he sensed police monitoring, which made it challenging for law enforcement to confirm the allegations against him. Despite attempts by various police units to apprehend him, his elusive behavior thwarted their operations until the CDEU successfully captured him on Monday.

In addition to the suspected narcotics, police also seized P500 in marked money and P120 from Tajo. Mogato stated that drug-related charges are set to be filed against him on Tuesday.

In a separate incident, a 19-year-old male was also detained in a drug bust at Barangay Sampinit, Bago City, Negros Occidental, last Sunday. Officers confiscated four sachets of suspected shabu, the P500 marked money used in the operation, an improvised tooter, a lighter, and P50 from the young suspect.