By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Around 396 grams of suspected shabu valued at P2.6 million were seized from a 19-year-old college student following the joint buy-bust operation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) – Bacolod and Police Station 2 at Purok Sigay in Bacolod City’s Barangay 2 on Saturday morning, April 17.

Authorities identified the arrested as Dan Aldrick Ballesteros, a resident of the said place. 

Atty. Renoir Baldovino, NBI-Bacolod chief, said they have been monitoring Ballesteros for two weeks prior to the operation as they have received reports that the suspect’s house was serving as a drop-off point for shabu.

Baldovino said when they conducted the operation against Ballesteros, his parents and siblings were completely surprised as they were unaware of the suspect’s illegal drug activities.

According to the NBI-Bacolod chief, initial interrogation of the suspect had not revealed any leads as to where he got the illicit substance, as Ballesteros is refusing to talk.

Baldovino also believes that the suspected shabu they seized was part of a shipment that arrived on Friday night, April 16, adding the rest of the illicit substance the suspect received may have already been distributed among the other illegal drug sellers not just in the area but in other parts of the city.

NBI and police seized three big and 22 medium sized sachets of suspected shabu with a combined weight of 396 grams from the suspect; P1,000 marked money; and a weighing scale.

Ballesteros was detained at the NBI-Bacolod office. He is scheduled to be formally charged today at the Bacolod City Hall of Justice for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002./DGB, WDJ