An estimated P18 million worth of suspected shabu was seized early yesterday morning by Police Station 3 (PS3) anti-drug operatives following a buy-bust operation at Purok Gonzaga in Bacolod City’s Barangay Taculing. Police identified the arrested as 27-year-old Kenneth ‘Bonbon’ Jacosalem, a resident of the said area.
PS3 commander, Police Major Ruel Culanag, said Jacosalem was tagged as a high-value drug target and had been under surveillance by police for a very long time. In addition, he noted, the suspect’s drug operations extend from his home in Barangay Taculing to Barangays 2 and Banago.
According to Culanag, when Jacosalem handed over the suspected shabu in exchange for P1,000, he found out he was dealing with an undercover cop. The suspect tried to escape but police were able to catch up, resulting in his arrest.
Police recovered a total of 15 plastic bags of suspected shabu from the suspect, the P1,000 buy-bust money, a digital weighing scale, and the suspect’s backpack.
Culanag added, the illicit substance weighed around 1,205 grams and has a total market value of P18,075,000.
The seizure is presently the biggest haul this year.
Jacosalem faces illegal drugs charges and is detained at PS3./DGB, WDJ