The drug bust in San Carlos City*
Three suspects were arrested in two separate anti-drug operations in Negros Occidental, with authorities confiscating more than P620,000 worth of suspected shabu.
In San Carlos City, a construction worker was arrested after police caught him allegedly discarding a bag containing illegal drugs at Luzuriaga Street in Barangay 6 at around 12:23 a.m. on Monday, July 28.
The suspect, Ritchie Coral, 22, a resident of Brgy. Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, was subjected to a routine police response after authorities received reports of a commotion in the area.
Upon arrival, operatives saw Coral attempting to dispose of a paper bag, which was later found to contain two sachets of suspected shabu.
The recovered drugs weighed approximately 74.65 grams with an estimated street value of P507,620, the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said.
The suspect is now under the custody of the San Carlos City Police Station and faces charges under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Meanwhile, in Binalbagan, two men were also arrested in a buy-bust operation at a restobar in Barangay Enclaro on Sunday night, July 27.
The suspects were identified as alias “Titing” or “Andy,” 42, a high-value individual and resident of Enclaro, and alias “Negro” or “Putot,” 28, a newly identified drug personality from Brgy. Bagroy.
The Binalbagan Municipal Police Station said the suspects sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer.
Seized from “Titing” were seven additional sachets of suspected shabu, a .38 caliber revolver with three live rounds, and the P500 marked money used in the transaction.
Six more sachets were recovered from “Negro.”
The total recovered drugs weighed about 17 grams, valued at P115,600, and were submitted to the Negros Occidental Provincial Forensic Unit for examination.
The two are facing charges for violating RA 9165 and RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.*