Suspected street-level drug pusher arrested in Laoag buy-bust

A 28-year-old man was arrested and more than P72,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized during a buy-bust operation in Barangay 2, Sta. Joaquina, on Monday night, Monday, 3 November, police reported.

The suspect, identified as Harold Pestanio Abela of Sitio Maharlika, Barangay 1 San Lorenzo, is tagged by authorities as a street-level individual. He was caught around 7:16 p.m. after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover officer at the corner of Gov. Agbayani and P. Lazaro Streets.

During the arrest, officers recovered the buy-bust sachet along with several more sachets believed to contain shabu, marked money, and an assortment of personal belongings, including a belt bag, mobile phones, cash, and the motorcycle the suspect was reportedly using. Police said the haul weighed about 10.7 grams in total, with an estimated value of P72,760.

Abela was informed of his rights in the local dialect before being brought to the police station and later to the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital for a medical examination. Representatives from the DOJ and barangay officials witnessed the inventory of seized evidence, which police also documented through alternative recording devices to ensure chain-of-custody compliance.

The operation was conducted by the Laoag City Police Station with support from PDEA-Region 1 and various police intelligence and drug enforcement units under PRO-1.

Charges for violating Sections 5 and 11, Article II of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) are being prepared against the suspect.