By CESAR JOLITO III

Authorities arrested a woman following the seizure of approximately P28.5 million worth of suspected shabu during a late-night anti-drug operation in Bacolod City’s Barangay 31 on Tuesday, May 19.

The suspect, identified only by alias “Bongi,” 36 years old, a resident of the area, was apprehended at 11:39 p.m. in Purok Fatima, Islamic Center, following a buy-bust operation led by the Bacolod City Police Office’s City Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police said the suspect allegedly sold a heat-sealed sachet containing suspected shabu to an undercover operative in exchange for marked money, prompting the arrest.

Recovered from the suspect were seven heat-sealed plastic sachets and five knot-tied plastic bags containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, including the buy-bust item.

Authorities estimated the confiscated illegal drugs to weigh around 4,200 grams with a standard drug price of P28.56 million.

Operatives also recovered P7,000 in marked money and several non-drug items during the operation.

The confiscated substances will undergo laboratory examination.

Inventory and handling of evidence were conducted in accordance with Section 21 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Police Brigadier General Romano Cardiño, acting regional director of the Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) commended the operating teams for the successful operation and reiterated the police force’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

“This operation sends a strong message that PRO-NIR remains relentless in its anti-illegal drug campaign,” Cardiño said, warning individuals involved in the illegal drug trade that authorities will continue to pursue violators of the law.

PRO-NIR said it remains committed to sustaining aggressive anti-illegal drug operations to help protect communities from the harmful effects of narcotics./CJ, WDJ