By CESAR JOLITO III

Authorities seized prohibited items but recorded no drug use among inmates during a joint greyhound operation and drug testing conducted at the Metro Bacolod District Jail’s Male Dormitory (MBDJ-MD) on Tuesday morning, March 3.

The operation, carried out at around 7:30 a.m., was led by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in the Negros Island Region (BJMP-NIR) in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Three operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency joined 19 personnel from the BJMP regional office and the MBDJ-MD.

District Jail Warden Supt. Richard Laure said the activity aimed to eliminate contraband and reinforce discipline inside the facility.

Jail officers recovered seven smartphones, three keypad phones, phone chargers, cash, five improvised bladed weapons, and other nuisance items.

All seized materials were properly inventoried and documented.

Following the cell search, the jail’s medical unit conducted drug tests on 155 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

All samples returned negative results, authorities reported.

The operation concluded at about 8:54 a.m. without any untoward incidents.

BJMP-NIR officials said similar operations will continue as part of ongoing efforts to maintain order and prevent illegal activities within detention facilities./CJ, WDJ