By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An estimated P1.3 million worth of suspected shabu was seized following a Police Station 8 (PS8) buy-bust operation last Saturday night at Purok Hollow Blocks in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City.

Police identified the suspect as 50-year-old Joemarie Tapalia, a resident of Purok San Roque, located in the city’s Barangay Handumanan.

PS8 commander, Police Chief Inspector Ruel Culanag, said Tapalia is one of the station’s known drug personalities.

He added, they did not expect to make such a large haul, especially since Tapalia was listed as a “street-level drug target.”

Tapalia was under close surveillance for at least one week before the operation was conducted.

Police recovered a total of 15 big and two elongated sachets of suspected shabu, two P500 bills, and two P1,000 bills.

Cops also recovered a bundle of transparent sachets, a scissor, and a mobile phone.

Tapalia faces illegal drugs charges and is currently detained at PS8./DGB, WDJ