By CESAR JOLITO III

Authorities seized more than P1.8 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested three high-value individuals (HVIs) in two successive anti-drug operations conducted late Wednesday night, April 15.

The operations, led by the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) through the Bacolod City Police Office, resulted in the confiscation of approximately 270 grams of illegal drugs.

Operatives of Police Station 8 arrested two suspects identified only by their aliases 26-year-old “Ar” and 38-year-old “Van,” residents of La Carlota City, in Barangay Tangub at 11:43 p.m.

Authorities said the operation stemmed from intelligence reports validated through surveillance conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

A poseur-buyer successfully transacted with the suspects, triggering their arrest.

Recovered from the two were about 150 grams of suspected shabu valued at P1,020,000, along with multiple sachets and plastic bags containing the substance, a motorcycle, mobile phone, bags, and marked, and boodle money used in the operation.

Tricycle driver nabbed

Minutes later, at around 11:50 p.m., a second operation was carried out in Barangay 2 by joint operatives of Police Station 2 and the City Drug Enforcement Unit.

This led to the arrest of alias 22-year-old “Rus,” a tricycle driver from Barangay Bata.

Seized from the suspect were approximately 120 grams of suspected shabu worth P816,000, along with several sachets, plastic bags, a pouch, and P12,000 in buy-bust money.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against the arrested individuals.

PRO-NIR said the back-to-back operations highlight intensified, intelligence-driven efforts to dismantle illegal drug networks in the region, while urging continued public cooperation in the campaign against illegal drugs./CJ, WDJ