POLICE seized nearly ₱860,000 worth of suspected shabu and arrested a 38-year-old businessman identified as a High Value Individual (HVI) during a successful buy-bust operation in Rosales town on the night of January 5, 2026.

The operation was conducted at around 8:10 p.m. in Barangay Zone V by personnel of the Rosales Municipal Police Station (MPS), in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Region 1 (PDEA-RO1).

According to police reports, the suspect was apprehended after selling one sachet of suspected shabu to a police officer acting as a poseur-buyer. A subsequent search led to the discovery of a gray belt bag containing 19 additional sachets of suspected shabu.

Authorities said the confiscated illegal drugs weighed approximately 127.73 grams, with an estimated street drug price of ₱868,564.

Also recovered from the suspect were two ₱100 bills used as dusted money, assorted boodle money consisting of three ₱100 bills and three ₱1,000 bills, ₱870 in cash, a brown wallet, and several packs of cigarettes.

The Rosales MPS assured the public that proper procedures were strictly followed during the operation.

Charges for violation of Article II, Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against the suspect. Both the arrested individual and the confiscated evidence were brought to the Rosales Police Station for proper disposition.

P/Brig. General Dindo R. Reyes commended the Rosales MPS for the successful operation, describing the arrest of an HVI as a major blow to the illegal drug trade in the province.

“This operation is like uprooting a deep-rooted weed in the middle of a plantation. By arresting this High Value Individual, we prevented the spread of poison in our community before it could harm more lives,” Reyes said. (Eva Visperas)