Four individuals were arrested in separate buy-bust operations conducted by police and anti-narcotics operatives across the province on 11 February 2026, resulting in multiple violations of Republic Acts 9165 and 10591.

At around 1:30 p.m., personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Ilocos Norte Provincial Field Unit, together with the 114th Special Action Company, Currimao Police Station, 2nd Ilocos Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Ilocos Norte Maritime Police Station, carried out a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Simeon, Currimao. The operation led to the arrest of a 33-year-old farmer from Barangay Sacritan, Pinili, Ilocos Norte, for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition. Authorities recovered from the suspect one 9mm pistol without serial number, seven live 9mm ammunition, a black sling bag, a genuine P1,000 bill, and four P1,000 boodle bills. The inventory and marking of evidence were witnessed by barangay officials of San Simeon. The suspect is now under CIDG custody for documentation and filing of appropriate charges.

Earlier at around 10:40 a.m., a joint operation by Marcos Police Station, the Ilocos Norte Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Regional Intelligence Unit 1, Regional Intelligence Division PRO1, Provincial Intelligence Unit, 2nd PMFC, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 1 led to the arrest of a 41-year-old man from Barangay Pacifico, Marcos, Ilocos Norte. The suspect yielded approximately 1.5 grams of suspected shabu in five heat-sealed sachets, a caliber .22 firearm loaded with six live bullets, four spare ammunition, and buy-bust money amounting to P1,000 in genuine and boodle bills. He was brought to the Doña Josefa Edralin Marcos District Hospital for medical examination before being detained at Marcos Police Station for filing of cases for violation of R.A. 9165 and R.A. 10591.

In Batac City, at around 8:40 a.m., the Batac City Police Station, acting as lead unit with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Ilocos Norte Provincial Office and supporting units, conducted a buy-bust at Barangay 35 Billoca that resulted in the arrest of a 38-year-old jobless man from the same barangay. Seized from the suspect were one sachet of suspected shabu weighing 0.8 grams as object of sale, and two sachets weighing 1.8 grams for possession. Also confiscated were a P1,000 bill used as buy-bust money, a cellphone, a piece of tissue paper, and one motorcycle. The suspect was brought to the Batac CPS for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges for violation of R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Later that afternoon at around 2:13 p.m., personnel of the Laoag City Police Station, in coordination with various units of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office and PDEA Region 1, carried out another drug sting at Governor Agbayani Street, Barangay 2, Laoag City. A 22-year-old student from Barangay 1 San Lorenzo, Laoag City, was arrested after selling a sachet containing 1.1 grams of suspected shabu to a police poseur buyer. Two other sachets containing 3.3 grams of the same substance were also seized from his possession, along with a genuine P1,000 bill, two boodle notes, personal cash amounting to P1,107, a lighter, a mobile phone, and an improvised cutter. Barangay officials and a media representative witnessed the inventory of the seized evidence. The suspect was brought to the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital for medical examination and is now detained at Laoag CPS pending the filing of criminal charges.

Authorities in Ilocos Norte reiterated their continued campaign against illegal drugs and loose firearms, vowing intensified operations to maintain peace and order across the province.