AN ESTIMATED P2.5 million worth of suspected “shabu” or methamphetamine hydrochloride was seized in a drug bust conducted by operatives of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Drug Enforcement Unit at Purok Tangigue, Barangay 1, Bacolod City Monday evening, October 8.

The operation also led to the arrest of Jessel Castillo while her companion Ernest Calatis managed to evade arrest.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of BCPO, said Tuesday Castillo was arrested while Calatis managed to evade arrest after they sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a police undercover at about 11 p.m.

Police recovered from Castillo’s possession 54 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 215 grams, sling bag, and the P1,000 marked money.

Pico said Castillo is detained at the custodial facility of Police Station 2 and facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 along with her companion, who is still at large.

BCPO official earlier said that volume of illegal drugs in Bacolod City is seen to increase, as drug suspects might have been stockpiling supply in preparation for the MassKara Festival celebration.

Pico said they are now intensifying their operations to address illegal drug problem in Bacolod.

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran also lauded the accomplishment of BCPO for their campaign against illegal drugs in the city.

“They have a great effort, but it doesn’t follow that we have a big supply of illegal drugs here. It’s a nationwide problem and it so happened that our operatives here are very active on the campaign against illegal drugs so they have a good accomplishment,” he said.

He added that BCPO was earlier awarded as top performing police office in Western Visayas on their campaign against illegal drugs. (MAP)