“INTENSIFY campaign against illegal drugs.”

This was the order of Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has to Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Thursday, August 12, 2022.

Benitez said BCPO should increase their surveillance monitoring activities in the city’s point of entry here, especially at the Bredco Port.

He said he also discussed it with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson along with Negros Occidental police officials to provide more K-9 dogs at the ports in the province including Bacolod City to prevent the entry of contraband.

“We should monitor our point of entry because most of the drug supplies are being transported here,” he added.

The mayor noted that he was informed that one of the suspects arrested in Negros Occidental admitted that the confiscated contraband was intended for the celebration of MassKara Festival in October.

In July 2022, BCPO arrested 52 drug personalities and seized about P8.5 million worth of shabu.

BCPO records showed that from 45 drug busts conducted, they seized 1,252.604 grams of shabu with an estimated market value of P8,517,707.20.

Of the 52 drug personalities arrested, 37 were drug pushers and 15 were drug users.

All of them were already charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.