Woman nabbed in ₱1.7-M drug bust in Bacolod

BACOLOD CITY – A woman was arrested while her husband managed to flee during an antidrugs operation that resulted in the confiscation of some ₱1.7 million worth of shabu in Barangay Estefania here on Monday.

Police Maj. Jun Ray Batadlan, head of Police Station 4, said the main target of the buy-bust operation, Edwin Vivero, 34, was able to escape through their house's exit door when he sensed the presence of police operatives in the area.

His wife, Christine Vivero, 35, who was le at their residence was arrested by operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU).

CDEU operatives recovered during the operation 59 sachets of suspected shabu weighing about 250 grams, the ₱1,000 marked money, a weighing scale, and a sling bag.

The operation came two days after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) here has arrested a 19-year-old boy for possession of some ₱2.6 million worth of suspected shabu in Barangay 2 here on Saturday.

Batadlan said the couple was reportedly engaging in the illegal drug trade, and were included in the drugs watchlist of the said police station and the barangay.

Batadlan said the couple probably just received the contraband and was supposed to distribute it to various areas here. He, however, did not reveal the source of the illegal drugs.

Batadlan said that both suspects, who were identified as high value individuals, will be charged for violation of Sections 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) and 11 (illegal possession of dangerous drugs) of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The arrested woman is now detained at Police Station 4.