P1.2-M ‘shabu’ seized in 4 days

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An estimated P1,221,790 worth of suspected shabu were seized here and in Negros Occidental from April 17 to 20, 2023.

The bulk of the drug recovery was reported here following the apprehension of an alleged member of a criminal group in a buy-bust operation in Barangay 4 on Thursday, April 20.

Operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) busted 59-year-old John Lucasan with 115 grams of suspected shabu worth P782,000. He is a high-value individual, according to the police.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Sherlock Gabana, public information officer of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said the suspect had a case for illegal possession of dangerous drugs last year.

He was released from jail after he posted bail but the trial on his case is ongoing, according to Gabana.

Gabana said the suspect’s group is also allegedly involved in other illegal activities. Police have yet to determine the source of the illegal drugs.

This is the biggest drug haul so far reported under the stint of Police Colonel Noel Aliño when he assumed as acting BCPO director on April 18.

Aside from this, three other individuals were also arrested by Police Stations 4 and 8 in Barangays 27 and Singcang-Airport, respectively, on the same day. It resulted in the confiscation of P54,400 worth of suspected shabu.

For the province, 15 persons were apprehended while P385,390 worth of suspected shabu were seized in separate buy-bust operations on April 17, 18, and 20.

The police operations were conducted in the cities of Bago, Cadiz, Kabankalan, Silay, Himamaylan, La Carlota, San Carlos, Talisay, and Victorias, and the towns of Manapla, La Castellana, and Valladolid.