BACOLOD CITY – Police seized Thursday some P11.6 million worth of suspected shabu from a couple in a drug bust in Barangay Singcang-Airport here.
Joint operatives of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU), the
Special Operation Unit of Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), and the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) raided the apartment of Joy Diamante, 18; and her partner Rafael Cantuar, 23, both residents of Barangay Banago here.
Col. Henry Biñas, Bacolod City police director, said that the couple had been placed under monitoring for several weeks, until they were located at their rented house.
Biñas said that Diamante serves as an alleged “keeper” of the contraband being taken from their unidentified source outside the city.
He said that both suspects are considered high-value targets due to the confiscation of 212 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 1,055 grams.
The illegal drug, which was already repacked into sachets, was allegedly supposed to be distributed by the suspects to their clients.
Authorities also recovered during the operation the P2,000 marked money and P1,850 cash.
Meanwhile, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, director of Police Regional Office -6 lauded the successful drug operation by the teams amid the global health crisis.
It was the biggest drug haul in the city since the community quarantine due to COVID-19 was implemented here on March.
When sought for reaction, the couple denied the allegations against them.
Diamante, in a media interview, said that they were just asked by someone they do not know to keep the contraband.
She said they agreed because they also need money to survive especially in these trying times.
The couple will be charged with sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs, and conspiracy for the said illegal activity, Biñas said. Both suspects are detained at Police Station 8. (Glazyl Masculino)
