SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos Norte — A high-impact anti-drug operation led to the arrest of Donden Mark Antonio y Corpuz, also known as Donden Antonio Lanuza, 31, a welder from Barangay Root, Dingras, Ilocos Norte, in the early hours of Tuesday, 18 February.

Despite being caught in possession of approximately 300 grams of shabu worth P2,040,000, the suspect refused to give comment.

Authorities from the Provincial Police Drug Enforcement Unit led by Police Captain Cristopher Pola as supervised by Police Colonel Frederick Obar, in together with the Police Intelligence Unit, Regional Intelligence Division, PDEA-RO1, and San Nicolas Municipal Police Station led by Police Captain Randy C. Damo, launched the operation as Antonio arrived from Cubao and met with a poseur buyer.

During the sting, law enforcement officers intercepted him and confiscated the illegal substances. The drugs were found in three ice bags, a medium heat-sealed plastic sachet, and two smaller sachets, containing a total of 300 grams of suspected shabu.

Police also recovered a glass tooter and plastic packaging with white residue, as well as a digital weighing scale, in which he claims he used to weigh motorcycle flyball, transparent plastic sachets, a cigarette pack, assorted packaging materials and a white backpack containing personal belongings.

The suspect is now under police custody and faces multiple charges under Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). Investigations are ongoing to determine further details regarding the source and intended distribution of the confiscated drugs.