BCPO intensifies operation against leader of Caunda Drug Group

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is now intensifying its operation to apprehend the leader of Caunda Drug Group that continues to operate in Bacolod City, Colonel Noel Aliño, city police director, said Friday, August 11.

"It showed that there's a drug syndicate operating here in the city. Their leader, Maria Caunda is not a resident of Bacolod," Aliño said.

He said some of their members were already arrested in various drug operations and they were identified as high-value individuals and big-time drug pushers.

On August 10, an estimated P14 million worth of suspected shabu was seized in a drug bust operation by operatives of City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) at Purok Pablo Torre, Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City.

The suspect was identified as Michael Frias, 45, a resident of the said village.

Police recovered from Frias's possession the suspected shabu, weighing 2.155 kilograms with an estimated market value of P14,382,000.

The police also recovered the P10,000 marked money, sling bag, weighing scale, and P220 in cash.

Frias, a former inmate, was identified as a high-value individual and a member of the Caunda Drug Group.

BCPO records showed from January to August 10 this year, BCPO confiscated at least 8.9 kilograms of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P61 million.

Alino stressed that Caunda Drug Group is also connected with Cuadra Drug Group which operates in Bacolod City.

"It's time that the BCPO and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will partner in the conduct of operation to neutralize this group," he said.

He added that they already offered a P100,000 reward for anyone who can provide information that could lead to the arrest of Maria Caunda.

Aliño noted that there's no shabu laboratory in Bacolod City.

Moreover, the operatives of CDEU and Police Station 7 also received P50,000 in reward money for the arrest of Frias.

Aliño said the funds were taken from BCPO.

"It’s a monetary reward to our operatives, and it will also encourage other police stations to arrest the members of the Caunda Drug Group in Bacolod,” he said.*