BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Where did the P10.2-million worth of shabu seized in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental last week come from?
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) does not believe the shabu was manufactured in the province or within Western Visayas.
It may have originated from another region, according to Police Colonel Leo Pamittan, acting police director of Negros Occidental.
It may have been smuggled into the province via San Carlos City’s porous coastline, he said.
Pamittan will be seeking the assistance of other law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to stop the entry of shabu to Negros Occidental even as he ordered his police chiefs to be more aggressive in going after drug personalities.
Last week, a joint buy-bust operation by the NOCPPO, Regional Drug Enforcement Unit of the Police Regional Office 6 and PDEA resulted in the arrest of 24-year-old Joel Rizardo, the No. 1 high-value drug suspect in San Carlos City.
Police recovered eight plastic sachets of suspected shabu, suspected drug money amounting to P3,600, and a paper bag containing the P3,500 buy-bust money.
The seized shabu had a combined weight of 1.5 kilos and valued at P10.2 million.
PDEA-6 vowed to tighten its monitoring of seaports.
“What we are doing right now aims to curb drug smuggling through the ports,” said spokesperson Shey Tanaleon.
PDEA-6 personnel recently inspected the port in Dumangas, Iloilo in coordination with the local government there.
The seaport serves roll on, roll off ships plying the Dumangas, Iloilo – Bacolod City sea route and vice versa.
PDEA-6 director Alex Tablate said Bacolod City and Negros Occidental were still the sources of illegal drugs being peddled in Iloilo city and province and other areas of Panay Island.
PDEA-6 is also monitoring five drug groups in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental./PN
