DRUG BUST. Zenaida Juguan Samodio (left) of the notorious Caunda drug group was arrested during a buy-bust in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City, Monday night (Oct. 2, 2023). Police operatives recovered from her possession PHP659,600 worth of shabu. (PNA photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office)
BACOLOD CITY – Anti-drug operatives of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) seized some PHP1.08 million worth of shabu in a series of buy-busts for the past three days as they closely watched the illegal drugs supply for the 44th MassKara Festival, which will start on Oct. 6.
“These positive results are in line with the aggressive anti-illegal drugs campaign to strengthen the war on drugs by having intelligence-driven operations in the city,” Col. Noel Aliño, city police director, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The latest recoveries are part of the tight monitoring against the entry of illegal drugs for the upcoming festival.
“We have recovered large volumes because we are targeting the source,” Aliño added.
Around 9:40 p.m. on Monday, a buy-bust conducted by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) and the City Intelligence Unit (CIU) in Barangay Tangub led to the recovery of PHP659,600 from a member of the notorious Caunda drug group identified as Zenaida Juguan Samodio, 48.
A police report said the suspect, a resident of Barangay 30, sold PHP1,000 in shabu to undercover police during a meet-up on Kabugaw Street in Gardenville Subdivision.
Samodio also yielded 11 plastic sachets and a knot-tied plastic bag containing about 97 grams of the illegal substance valued at PHP6,800 per gram.
Over the weekend, two drug personalities were also arrested in Barangay Mandalagan by operatives of Police Station 4.
Both tagged as street-level individuals were Ken Ryu Gallego Barrientos, 20, and Martin John Española Beatingo, 33, of Barangay Villamonte.
During the operation at 5:45 a.m. on Saturday, a police poseur-buyer bought PHP500 in shabu from the suspects. He has an additional 15 grams of the same prohibited substance valued at PHP102,000 and 10 grams of dried marijuana worth PHP1,500 in his possession.
Operatives also seized from their possession two caliber. 38 revolvers with four live ammunition, holding them liable for violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.
On the same day, personnel of Police Station 2 arrested Jerish Christian Sarno Panao, 28, a high-value individual, at his residence in Barangay 2, where he yielded 50 grams of shabu worth PHP320,000.
At around 1:36 a.m., Panao, who also possessed nine sachets of the illegal substance, sold a sachet of a shabu to undercover policemen.
“His arrest came after a thorough intelligence and casing surveillance. He was also previously arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165 and was released through a plea bargain agreement,” Aliño said. (PNA)
