Dumaguete drug bust yields P7.8M worth of ‘shabu’

DUMAGUETE CITY — Police seized an estimated P7.8 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested a high-value drug suspect in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Balugo here on Friday morning, Oct. 2.

Personnel of the Dumaguete City Police Station’s City Drug Enforcement Unit conducted the operation at 11:19 a.m. in Purok Santol.

This action resulted in the arrest of a 35-year-old resident of Barangay Batinguel, identified as alias “John,” the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) reported.

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Operatives recovered about 1,150 grams of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth), with a standard drug price of P7.8 million, along with the buy-bust money and other pieces of evidence.

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Police said the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant about the suspect’s alleged distribution of illegal drugs in several barangays in the city.

Surveillance and validation reportedly showed that the suspect was sourcing his drug supply from Cebu.

In coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), police arranged a drug transaction that led to the suspect’s arrest after the sale was completed.

A subsequent body search also yielded additional sachets and a pack containing suspected shabu.

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Police said the suspect was informed of his constitutional rights in a dialect he understood.

The seized items were inventoried and documented at the scene in the presence of the suspect and required witnesses.

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Alias “John” was brought to the Dumaguete City Police Station for booking as police prepared charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

PRO-NIR Director Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales commended the operatives for disrupting what police described as part of the local drug supply chain.

“This accomplishment demonstrates our firm resolve to confront the illegal drug trade and protect our communities from its harmful effects,” Reales said.

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He added: “We will act decisively on validated information, pursue those involved in the distribution of illegal drugs, and disrupt their operations before they can cause greater harm.” /apl