At least P500,000 worth of suspected shabu and marijuana were seized earlier yesterday morning following a buy-bust operation in Bacolod City’s Barangay 4.
Police identified the arrested suspect as 29-year-old Nelson Medalla, a resident of Purok Masanag 3 in the city’s Barangay 26.
Police Station 3 (PS3) commander, Police Major Ruel Culanag, said Medalla is a high-value drug target and had previously been jailed on drug-related charges.
However, the suspect was later released on a plea bargain and, once freed, immediately returned to illegal drug activities.
Cops seized P333,660 worth of suspected dried marijuana found wrapped in a transparent plastic film, four sachets of suspected shabu worth P240,000, and the P500 buy-bust money.
Culanag believes Medalla managed to sneak the dried marijuana into the city by mixing it among flower shipments as the illegal substance was wrapped the same way in which flowers are packaged.
The suspect was also reported to be uncooperative with police, refusing to say where he got his supply of illegal drugs.
Medalla is presently detained at PS3 on drug-related charges./DGB, WDJ