Five Arrested, PHP1.4-M in Drugs Seized

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Police seized 220 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP1,496,000 from five individuals, including two women, during a buy-bust operation Wednesday at Purok Uhaw, Barangay 4, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

Authorities identified the primary target of the operation as “Minggay,” 38, a resident of the same village.

Police Capt. Sammy Gasataya, deputy chief of the Kabankalan City Police Station, said officers had monitored the suspect for several months, noting that her husband had also been previously arrested for a drug offense.

The operation also apprehended “Inday,” 31, from the same village, along with three men from Barangays 4 and 9, who were allegedly engaged in a “pot session.”

Gasataya reported that all five suspects were listed on the police station’s drug watchlist.

One of the male suspects, age 32, was classified as a high-value individual (HVI), while the other four suspects were designated as street-level individuals (SLIs).

The 32-year-old male suspect, previously jailed on a drug charge, was released after serving his sentence and was reported to be a remnant of a dismantled drug group.

Police recovered various items from the suspects, including an improvised straw scoop, an improvised glass tooter, a pair of scissors, a digital weighing scale, PHP400, and PHP500 in marked money.

Gasataya said “Minggay” allegedly repacked and sold the illegal drugs.

Police are preparing to file drug charges against the five suspects.