By CESAR JOLITO III

Authorities from the Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) confiscated more than P5.5 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested a 19-year-old high-value individual during a buy-bust operation at Barangay Punta Mesa in Negros Occidental’s Manapla town on Saturday, June 20.

PRO-NIR identified the suspect only as alias “Jay Em,” a resident of Barangay 1B in the town.

He was arrested during an operation conducted at Hacienda Busay.

Operatives recovered approximately 820 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P5.576 million, making it one of the significant drug seizures recorded in the municipality this year.

Police said the operation stemmed from intelligence information that linked the suspect to alleged illegal drug activities.

Recovered from the suspect were one sachet of suspected shabu used as the buy-bust item, 24 additional sachets and three plastic bags containing suspected illegal substance, buy-bust money consisting of one genuine P1,000 bill and 11 boodle bills, P20,000 in alleged cash proceeds, and a motorcycle unit.

The suspect is currently under police custody while facing charges for violations of the country’s anti-drug law./CCJ, WDJ