P11.6-M shabu seized in Bacolod buy-bust

BACOLOD CITY – Police anti-drug operatives seized an estimated PHP11.605 million worth of suspected shabu from a young couple during a buy-bust inside an apartment at Greenplains Subdivision, Barangay Singcang-Airport here on Thursday afternoon.

The operation was carried out by the joint team of Police Regional Office-6 (Western Visayas) Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU), Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), and Special Operation Unit (SOU) of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) after about two months of surveillance.

The suspects were identified as Joy Diamante, 18; and Rafael Cantuar, 23; both of Purok Langis in Barangay Banago.

“They are part of an organized group,” Lt. Thurslie Castillo of RDEU-6 said.

Considered a high-value individual, Diamante, the subject of the operation, has been tagged as seller or caretaker of the shabu supply.

The couple has been staying in the apartment for only several days since distributors like Diamante are mobile and don’t stay in one place for a long time, the police said.

Operatives seized 211 sachets of shabu weighing about 1.055 kilograms.

Earlier, a poseur-buyer bought PHP1,000 worth of shabu from the couple. During the subsequent search, operatives found Diamante’s shabu supply inside a black briefcase.

In a radio interview, Diamante said she has been instructed to watch the place and admitted knowing that she is being asked to peddle shabu. "We are given a budget," she said.

Diamante said the shabu items were delivered to her but did not name the people she was working for, claiming that the buyers just call her to pick up the supply. (PNA)