Nearly PHP 1 million shabu seized in Bacolod busts

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) seized PHP 952,000 worth of suspected shabu from seven people in separate buy-bust operations on Saturday, Dec. 27.

Shabu is the street name for methamphetamine hydrochloride, a dangerous illegal drug commonly seized in anti-narcotics operations in the Philippines.

In the first operation, police arrested six suspects in Purok Lubi, Barangay 3, at 12:48 a.m. and seized 80 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 544,000.

Arrested were “Mar,” 40, of Bago City; “Leo,” 48, of Barangay 3; “RL,” 32, of Barangay Mandalagan; and “Clint,” 23, “Ron,” 19, and “Rod,” 47, all of Silay City.

The CDEU said the operation was launched after information from a confidential informant and barangay officials alleging that Mar was engaged in the illegal drug trade in Barangay 3, with authorities tagging him as a high-value individual.

Police Lt. Richard Legada, assistant CDEU head, said Leo was previously arrested in January 2024 for allegedly visiting a drug den and was released in September of the same year.

Authorities classified Mar’s companions as street-level individuals and first-time arrestees for a drug offense.

In the second operation, police arrested a 29-year-old man identified as “Yuri” in Purok Tahong, Barangay 2, at 5:40 a.m. and seized 60 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 408,000.

Legada said the suspect allegedly started engaging in the illegal drug trade in 2020 but was arrested for the first time for the offense, and authorities also tagged him as a high-value individual.

CDEU operatives conducted two weeks of surveillance before carrying out the operation, Legada said.

All seven suspects are detained at Police Station 2.

In a statement, the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region said, “by striking swiftly and decisively, they continue to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs and weaken the networks that threaten the safety and well-being of communities.”

The regional office said the back-to-back operations underscored its resolve to dismantle illegal drug networks and deny criminals room to operate in the region.