Police agents arrested a Bacolod City resident during a buy-bust that led to the recovery of P5.44-million worth of suspected shabu in Barangay Pahanocoy’s Purok Villa Lourdes early yesterday morning.

The suspect, 26-year-old Rene “Ombap” Lapera Jr., tagged as a high-value individual, is under the custody of Police Station 8, which conducted the operation together with the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit in Western Visayas.

In a statement, Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, director of Police Regional Office in Western Visayas, lauded the Bacolod City Police Office for “one of its biggest accomplishments” in the anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“This only shows that we are steadfast in our campaign to stop illegal drugs in the region. We hope people will continue to help the police by providing information for the arrest of those who use and sell the illegal drug shabu,” he added.

“Tactical interrogation is ongoing to locate the source of illegal drugs, links and accomplishes for the conduct of a follow-up operation,” according to Police Station 8.

Minutes before the 2:00 a.m. arrest, Lapera sold P3,000 worth of suspected shabu to an undercover cop.

Operatives also found in his possession 10 big heat-sealed plastic sachets and seven knot-tied plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, weighing about 800 grams.

Pegged at P6,800 per gram, the total value of seized prohibited substances reached P5.44 million.

Other items seized were a digital weighing scale and a sling bag. (PNA)