BACOLOD CITY, July 15 (PNA) — Government anti-narcotics operatives seized about P2 million worth of illegal drugs in two separate operations here in less than 24 hours.
On Wednesday morning, agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confiscated 20 sachets of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) inside the store of cellular phone technician Amiro Tantua, 27, on Mabini Street, Barangay 40.
Tantua, owner of K2 Cellphone Shop, was repacking suspected shabu when PDEA agents arrested him at around 10:45 a.m. following a buy-bust operation where he sold P3,000 worth of shabu to a poseur-buyer.
PDEA Investigation Agent 1 Rachel Mission said the recovered 20 sachets of illegal drugs has an estimated market value of close to P800,000.
The suspect, who was placed under surveillance for two weeks, is now detained at Police Station 6. Charges will be filed against him.
At around 5 p.m. Tuesday, police operatives seized P1.2 million worth of illegal drugs from a taxi driver following a buy-bust operation inside a Bacolod mall at the Reclamation Area here.
Supt. Leonardo Angcon, head of Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG) of Police Regional Office-6, identified the suspect as Paterno Lusabia of Purok Nami-nami, Barangay Sum-ag in this city.
Angcon said the suspect possessed a box containing two large plastic sachets of shabu weighing 200 grams. The P2,000 marked money was also seized.
Lusabia’s four companions, however, evaded arrest. One of the four was identified as Raymond Escutin.
Angcon said their priority is Lusabia because he was the one who was carrying the item.
Lusabia, who is detained at Police Station 1, said he was only holding the box and that somebody claimed the package sent from Manila through a private courier.(PNA)