BY SHIELA G. GELERA
About 2.4 kilos of suspected shabu, worth P24 million, were seized from three suspects during a buy-bust operation in Purok Datiles, Phase 4, in Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City, at about 9 a.m. yesterday.
Carline and Richard, both surnamed Lunares, and Nester Briñosa, were nabbed with 49 transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu, P11,000 in marked money, a black sling bag, a brown knapsack, and a cellular phone, the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit-6 reported.
P/Lt. Thurslie Castillo, RDEU team leader, said Carline was the subject of the operation and is on the watchlist of the police, classified as a high value individual (HVI).
Castillo said they learned during their surveillance that Carline stores the illegal drugs in her house.
The drug source of the suspects is from Negros but the supply comes from Muntinlupa City, he added.
“The items are sent through courier services or shipment,” Castillo said, adding that the suspects had been under surveillance for a month.
“They have a dressed chicken and frozen food business as a front, while engaging in the illegal drug trade,” he said.
The sachets of shabu confiscated were set to be distributed because these were already repacked per gram and per 1/4 kilo when the police operatives arrived, Castillo said.
Castillo said Richard, who serves as “runner”, was previously nabbed with illegal drugs in a checkpoint operation. The suspect was freed from detention when he availed of the plea bargaining agreement, he added.
The buy-bust was a joint operation of RDEU-6, Special Operations Unit-7, Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group, and the Bacolod City Drug Enforcement Unit.
The three suspects are now detained at the custodial facility of Station 10 and they may face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.*
