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P3.4-M shabu seized, 2 suspects nabbed in NegOcc

By Nanette Guadalquiver

May 5, 2021, 3:10 pm

<p><strong>DRUG HAUL</strong>. An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Western Visayas Regional Special Enforcement Team conducts an inventory of the PHP3.4 million worth of suspected shabu seized during a buy-bust in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Tuesday (May 4, 2021). One of the three suspects evaded arrest. <em>(Photo courtesy of PDEA-Western Visayas)</em></p>

DRUG HAUL. An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Western Visayas Regional Special Enforcement Team conducts an inventory of the PHP3.4 million worth of suspected shabu seized during a buy-bust in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Tuesday (May 4, 2021). One of the three suspects evaded arrest. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-Western Visayas)

BACOLOD CITY – An estimated PHP3.4 million worth of suspected shabu were seized by joint anti-drug operatives from two suspects during a buy-bust inside a fighting cock farm in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Tuesday night.

A report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Western Visayas (PDEA-6) Regional Special Enforcement Team released on Wednesday identified the arrested suspects as Reylan Artus and Justine Ledesma.

Another suspect, Andrew Ledesma, the subject of the operation, fled during the operation.

The PDEA-6 agent who led the operation said they are set to file cases against the suspects for violation of Sections 5 and 11 under Article 2 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

At 7:45 p.m., PDEA agents were joined by personnel of Murcia Municipal Police Station during the operation at ABL and Sons Farm in Purok Lacson, Barangay Alegria.

A poseur-buyer purchased a sachet of shabu from the suspects worth PHP12,500, which led to the arrest of the two drug personalities.

Operatives recovered about 500 grams of a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu placed in four large transparent plastic sachets.

Pegged at PHP6,800 per gram, the drug haul totaled PHP3.4 million.

This is the third buy-bust led by PDEA-6 agents in Negros Occidental and this capital city in the past two weeks.

On April 23, operatives of PDEA-Negros Occidental Provincial Office and Bacolod City Police Station 2 arrested high-value target (HVT) Jobel Villasis in Barangay 1 here.

The suspect yielded some 60 grams of shabu with a standard value of PHP408,000.

On April 21, the PDEA-6 Regional Special Enforcement Team arrested another HVT, Elena Quiman, in Barangay 27 in this city.

Quiman was found in possession of 50 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP340,000. (PNA)



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