Couple busted for P1.1-M ‘shabu’

By Glazyl Y Masculino

BACOLOD City – Information from Negros Oriental police led to the arrest of a couple who allegedly possessed 170 grams of suspected shabu worth P1,156,000 at Purok Santan, Barangay Camugao, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental last Wednesday.

The subject of the buy-bust operation was identified as Leosella Consular, 37; while her husband was identified as Jomy Consular, 42, both residents of Barangay Hilamonan.

Police Lieutenant Dennis Melgarejo, deputy chief of Kabankalan City Police Station, said the couple was initially categorized as newly identified individuals, since they were allegedly engaging in the illegal drug trade for about three months now.

Melgarejo said the couple’s category upgraded to high value individuals after more than 50 grams of illegal drugs were confiscated from their possession.

Melgarejo said they mounted the operation after a week of surveillance on Leosella.

“Kapigaduhon kuno ang nagtulod sila nga mag duso,” Melgarejo said, adding that the couple told the police that the previous income of Jomy from driving a tricycle was not enough to support the needs of their family.

Police also recovered from them the P1,000 marked money, a tricycle that they allegedly used to transport the contraband, and boodle or fake money used in the sting operation.

As to the source of the illegal drugs, Melgarejo said the couple refused to reveal their supplier.

“Budlayan ta makakuha info sa ila, amo pa na gina imbestigahan ta,” Melgarejo said, adding that the couple would reportedly repack the item and distribute it to their clients in the city and Negros Oriental.

The couple will be charged for sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs, while Jomy will have an additional case for conspiracy, according to Melgarejo.

With this accomplishment, Police Colonel Leo Pamittan, acting director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), commended the police operatives and ordered them to conduct a more focused intelligence monitoring on known drug groups operating in the province.

Meanwhile, Police Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, also lauded the operating personnel for another successful operation against illegal drugs.

“Congratulations on your accomplishment, this only shows your commitment and dedication to cleanse our communities from the menace of illegal drugs,” Dongbo said, as he urged them to continue their efforts and look deeper if these suspects have cohorts in their illegal activities.