Couple Arrested With PHP 1-M in Drugs

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – The City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) arrested a couple in a buy-bust operation that allegedly yielded 150 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 1,020,000 in Barangay Villamonte early Monday.

The suspects were identified as “Mariel,” 30, and her live-in partner “Naldo,” 23, both residents of Barangay 20.

Also seized from the suspects were the PHP 1,000 marked money and another PHP 1,000 believed to be proceeds from drug transactions.

Police Lt. Col. Antonio Benitez Jr., CDEU head, said they monitored the woman for a month following information from previously arrested drug suspects who identified her as an alleged source of illegal drugs.

Benitez noted that the couple allegedly took over the illegal drug operations in Barangay Villamonte after the arrest of a previous drug peddler.

The woman was classified as a high-value individual (HVI), while her partner was identified as a newly-listed HVI due to the volume of drugs seized, according to Benitez.

He added that the woman was on the CDEU’s drug watchlist and that authorities are verifying whether the suspects had prior cases.

Both suspects are detained at Police Station 4.

Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, expressed gratitude to the community for providing information that led to the arrests.

“As we pursue the remaining individuals involved in illegal drug activities, our collaboration and partnership with other law enforcement agencies are being strengthened,” Wanky said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in Negros Occidental, a 17-year-old boy was apprehended in a drug bust in Barangay Poblacion, Bago City, on Sunday.

Police said 20 grams of suspected marijuana worth PHP 2,400, PHP 500 in marked money, and PHP 50 were seized from the boy.