By CESAR JOLITO III

Two alleged drug personalities were arrested while about P680,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation at Purok Lilang in Bacolod City’s Barangay Banago on Monday, September 15.

The suspects were identified as 18-year-old alias Teodolo, a resident of Barangay Tangub, and 26-year-old alias Veronica, a resident of Barangay Banago.

Both are unemployed and were tagged by police as actively involved in the illegal drug trade.

Police said the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant and concerned residents.

Following days of surveillance and casing, operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office staged a buy-bust that led to the suspects’ arrest.

Recovered from the duo were one sachet of suspected shabu used as a buy-bust item, 13 more sachets of suspected shabu, a P1,000 bill marked money, and other non-drug items.

The seized illegal drugs weighed around 100 grams, with an estimated value of P680,000.

Authorities ensured that the suspects were apprised of their rights under the Constitution and the Anti-Torture Law.

Evidence was documented with the use of body-worn cameras and later submitted to the Negros Occidental Provincial Forensic Unit for examination.

The two suspects are now detained at Police Station 3, pending charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region lauded the cooperation of concerned residents in the operation, stressing the importance of community involvement in suppressing illegal drugs.

The regional command reaffirmed its commitment to dismantle drug networks and maintain peace and security across Negros Island and Siquijor through sustained anti-drug operations./CJ, WDJ