P5.8-M worth of ‘shabu’ seized in weekend

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police confiscated P5,875,200 worth of suspected shabu from four persons, including minor, in separate anti-illegal drug operations here from June 16 to 18.

The biggest drug haul was reported yesterday in Barangay Pahanocoy, where

800 grams of suspected shabu worth P5,440,000 were seized from a young man in a buy-bust operation.

Police identified the subject as Rene Lapera Jr., 26, of the said village.

Also recovered from him were a digital weighing scale, and the P3,000 marked money.

Police Captain Melvin Mercado, head of Police Station 8, said they were surprised to see the bulk of illegal drugs from Lapera, since his name is not even part of the station’s drugs watchlist.

Mercado said they launched an operation against Lapera after his name floated from the previous apprehension of some drug suspects.

Mercado said the suspect is a high value individual, considering the volume of the drug recovery.

Lapera told the police that someone reportedly calls to tell him to meet and get the illegal drugs somewhere.

Mercado said the suspect is reluctant to provide more information. They are still probing him for additional details.

He said they are also verifying information that the suspect was previously arrested for a drug offense.

Police Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, acting director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, commended the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) team for the huge accomplishment.

“Patunay lamang po ito na hindi po tayo nagpapatinag at tumitigil sa pagsugpo ng iligal na droga sa ating rehiyon,” Villaflor said in a statement.

Sa ating mga mamamayan, sana po ay huwag kayong magsawa na tulungan ang ating mga kapulisan sa pagbibigay ng mga impormasyon para sa tuloy-tuloy na pagdakip sa mga gumagamit o nagbebenta ng iligal na “shabu.” Magtulungan po tayo tungo sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran, he added.

Meanwhile, operatives of the City Drugs Enforcement Unit (CDEU) also busted Bryan Alvarez, 41, of Barangay Singcang-Airport last Saturday.

Police seized from Alvarez 55 grams of suspected shabu worth P374,000.

Police Captain Joven Mogato, CDEU head, said that Alvarez has been monitored by the barangay for his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

But, they recently received complaints from some residents about his alleged illegal activity, prompting them to conduct their own monitoring for almost two weeks, until they launched the operation against him.

On that same day, a man was also arrested by personnel of Police Station 2 in a drug bust in Barangay 2, that resulted in the confiscation of P34,000 worth of suspected shabu.

Last Friday, a 15-year-old boy was caught with four grams of suspected shabu worth P27,200 in Barangay 12, while policemen were conducting patrolling in the area. He is under the custody of Police Station 1.