Couple, 3 others fall in P755K drug bust

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Five persons were arrested and P755,000 worth of suspected shabu were seized in a buy-bust at Barangay Bata here Sunday night.

Anti-drug operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) conducted the operation against target subjects Jose June Codico and his partner Kamel Benitez.

Also arrested were Roel Amonin, Francis Mark Rito, and John Batosin, who were present at Codico’s house during the operation.

Police recovered from them 14 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 50 grams, a weighing scale, and the P1,000 marked money while police also confiscated from Amonin an improvised shotgun with four live ammunition.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Leonardo Borromeo, CDEU head said Codico is a high value target since he is reported to be distributing half a million worth of illegal drugs per week while his partner allegedly conspires with him in the transaction.

Borromeo said Codico is a big supplier of drugs at the said village, but they are still validating if he also distributes the contraband in other areas here and in Negros Occidental.

Codico was also previously jailed and was allegedly involved in robbery-hold up incidents here, the CDEU head said.

Borromeo also said that the three other arrested suspects were probably about to get their supply from Codico when they were busted.

They were also being linked to previous robbery hold-up incidents here, particularly Amonin who had a previous link with notorious robber Johnnie Villarete who was killed after he attempted to rob a policeman here in June 2018.

Borromeo said the couple will be charged for sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs while three others will be facing charges for illegal possession of dangerous drugs.

Additional charges for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition will be filed against Amonin.

All five suspects are detained at Police Station 3.

In Kabankalan City, Larry Sumagaysay, 55, of Barangay 7; and Julius Carpena, 26, of Himamaylan City were arrested in a drug bust at Barangay Hilamonan last Sunday, for the alleged confiscation of 10 sachets of suspected shabu worth P10,000, the P100 marked money, and P3,413 cash.

Early the following day, John Rey Agbay, 38, of Barangay 3, San Carlos City was arrested at Barangay 5 after he was allegedly caught throwing a sachet of suspected shabu  while police were conducting mobile patrol at the said area.

Also seized by police from him were five sachets of suspected shabu worth P3,400, a sachet of suspected dried marijuana leaves worth P18, and P580 cash.