Teen, four others nabbed for P2.9M ‘shabu’

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – An estimated P2,958,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized from five people, including a teenager, in separate buy-bust operations on Friday and Sunday.

Operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) had the biggest confiscation of illegal drugs in the city, recovering 205 grams of suspected shabu worth P1,394,000 in Barangay 3 yesterday.

Police Captain Joven Mogato, CDEU head, said the subject of the operation was a 21-year-old man who was monitored for two weeks after being identified as the alleged source of illegal drugs in Barangays 2 and 3.

Mogato said the suspect’s 60-year-old grandfather, who was his alleged cohort, was also apprehended after reportedly engaging in the drug transaction.

Mogato said the younger suspect can be considered an alleged drug courier, as he was tasked with getting the contraband from his source to their clients.

The elder suspect claimed he engaged in the illegal activity to buy medicine. He had been previously arrested for illegal possession of dangerous drugs but was able to post bail.

The younger suspect will be charged with the sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs, while his grandfather will face drug charges related to conspiracy.

Both suspects are considered high-value individuals (HVIs) due to the volume of drugs recovered and the elder suspect’s previous apprehension.

Last Friday, a 19-year-old boy was arrested while his companion escaped a drug bust in Purok Maabi-abihon, Barangay 35.

Operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Special Operations Unit (SOU)-6 seized 150 grams of suspected shabu worth P1,020,000.

According to PDEG, the teenager’s friend had been previously arrested for a drug offense, which might have influenced the teenager to engage in the illegal activity. The teenager is a newly-identified individual.

That same night, two friends were arrested at the old runway in Purok Kapalaran, Barangay Singcang-Airport, leading to the recovery of 80 grams of suspected shabu worth P544,000.

Police Major Eugene Tolentino, head of Police Station 8, said the 55-year-old man was the subject of the operation and had also been previously arrested for a drug offense.

The suspect had been under monitoring after being identified by previously arrested drug suspects.

Tolentino said the elder suspect allegedly distributed illegal drugs in Barangays Singcang-Airport, Mansilingan, and Handumanan.

A brief chase occurred when the suspect’s 44-year-old friend, an alleged drug runner, attempted to escape on a motorcycle. He was cornered by police after falling from his motorcycle.

Police recovered a .38 caliber revolver with four live rounds and a fired cartridge from the younger suspect.

Aside from drug charges, the younger suspect will also be charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, according to Tolentino.