AN ESTIMATED P13.6 million worth of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride was seized in a drug bust conducted by Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group-Special Operations Unit-4 and 7 on Scorpio Street, Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City Monday evening, November 23.
The operation led to the arrest of Regine Arroz, Jun Mark Ibe, both 28 years old and residents of Barangay Singcang-Airport; and Shiela Mhary Balarao, 34, of Barangay Palara Norte, Pulupandan.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said the suspects were arrested after they sold a sachet of shabu to a police undercover around 6 p.m.
Police recovered from the suspects 20 big and three small transparent plastics containing shabu and weighing two kilograms, the P14,000 marked money and P29,000 cash.
The suspects are detained at the custodial facility of Police Station 8 and facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran lauded the accomplishment of the police to address the illegal drugs problem in the city.
Familiaran said the PNP Drug Enforcement Group was headed by former BCPO director Colonel Henry Binas and they monitored that there would be a shipment of illegal drugs from Manila to Bacolod.
The contraband was placed in a big box. It was shipped through a courier firm in Bacolod.
"Without the cooperation of our netizens, we cannot address this problem. We have so many entry points here so we need the cooperation of everybody to monitor the entry of illegal drugs in the city," Familiaran said.
He said BCPO should also intensify its campaign against illegal drugs in various barangays.
"It's the directive of Mayor Evelio Leonardia to BCPO director Colonel Manuel Placido to prioritize the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), but they should also prioritize the peace and order situation including the campaign against illegal drugs. While we focus on Covid, we should also maintain peace and order in the city," he added.
Familiaran reminded those who engaged in illegal drugs to stop their illegal activities and to find a new source of income to support their family.