Couple, cohort fall in P24-M ‘shabu’ bust

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – Another high value individual and two others were arrested in a buy-bust that led to the seizure of P24 million worth of suspected shabu at Barangay Handumanan here yesterday.

The Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) identified the suspects as target subject Carline Lunares 23, her partner Nester Brinosa, 23, both residents of the said village, and Carline’s brother – Richard Lunares, 30, of Barangay Bata here.

The operation came on the heels of a series of major drug recoveries here and in Negros Occidental in the past weeks.

Lieutenant Thurslie Castillo, head of Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU)-6, said they launched the operation with the Special Operations Unit 7,  Philippine National Police (PNP)-Drug Enforcement Group, and City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) after almost a month of surveillance on the three suspects.

“With the help of our informant, we were able to transact with Carline’s brother, who, according to Castillo, led them to the said venue, where more contrabands were stored.

Authorities recovered during the operation 2.4 kilos of suspected shabu, and the P11,000 marked money.

Castillo said that some of the recovered illegal drugs were already packed and ready for distribution.

“Kaliwaan na, wala ng consignment. Palitan agad, pera at item. Minsan gumagamit pa ng courier services,” he added.

Castillo said Carline is the “bodegera” or warehouse keeper, from whom other drug pushers get their supply of illegal drugs.

She is listed as a high value individual and one of the top priorities in the region’s campaign against illegal drugs, he added.

Castillo said that she is also reportedly connected to a drug group operating in the city.

He said there are many (drug) players in the city and province. In fact, he said that the contraband was even reportedly directly sourced out from Muntinlupa jail.

He said he cannot divulge yet other information related to the operation since big drug personalities were behind the said illegal drug trade. He added that these persons were armed and dangerous.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, PRO-6 director, lauded the operating team for another successful buy-bust operation.

Pamuspusan said in a statement that the arrest of the three suspects will momentarily stop the operations of Carline’s downlines. “We are after the listed personalities so we could get their connections too,” he added.

The three suspects are now in the custody of Police Station 10 for filing of charges for sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs.

The PRO-6 is intensifying its anti-drug war following series of big drug hauls reportedly transported via San Carlos City in Negros Occidental to the oriental side and Cebu in the past weeks.