Anti-illegal drug operatives in Negros Oriental have seized some P4 million worth of suspected shabu in separate buy-bust operations in capital Dumaguete City and nearby Sibulan town, an official said yesterday.

Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), told the Philippine News Agency that during the buy-bust operations, police operatives also arrested “high-value individuals” who had been under surveillance in recent weeks.

A report from the NOPPO said a 54-year-old resident of Batinguel in this capital city was arrested on Tuesday, November 5, in Purok Mabugnawon 1 in Barangay Junob.

Confiscated from him were about 500 grams of suspected shabu worth P3.4 million.

Hours later, at around 1:47 a.m. yesterday, a certain “Toto,” 38, and a resident of San Miguel in Bacong town was apprehended at Purok 3 in Barangay Agan-an, Sibulan after he allegedly sold suspected shabu to an undercover operative.

Seized from him were some 100 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P680,000.

Polinar said the NOPPO, in coordination with other law enforcement units, has intensified their anti-illegal drugs operations since the Buglasan Festival in October.

“This is in anticipation of huge volumes of shabu being sold in the local markets in light of the holiday season and other local activities such as the city fiesta and charter day on November 24 and 25 where the influx of visitors is expected to rise,” he added. (PNA)