DINGRAS, Ilocos Norte — Three individuals were arrested for alleged violations of Sections 11 and 12 of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, after police recovered suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia during an anti-drag racing operation in Barangay Guerrero shortly after midnight on 7 July.

According to the Dingras Municipal Police Station, officers were conducting an OPLAN SITA along the barangay bypass road following reports of illegal drag racing in the area. Police were issuing traffic citation tickets to individuals believed to be spectators when two motorcycles approached the checkpoint from the east.

Authorities said one motorcycle was driven by a lone rider, while the other carried a driver and a back rider. As the motorcycles neared the checkpoint, the lone rider allegedly shouted to his companions to evade the police. Responding officers, however, were able to stop both motorcycles.

During the inspection, police said the back rider of one motorcycle allegedly dropped a digital weighing scale, a partially folded piece of paper containing a heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet with a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, and four empty transparent plastic sachets. Officers said they witnessed the items being discarded in plain view.

Police further alleged that the rider who had warned the group to flee scolded the others for failing to dispose of the suspected contraband.

Barangay officials and a media representative were summoned to witness the inventory and documentation of the recovered items. During a subsequent search, officers allegedly recovered another heat-sealed plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu from the possession of the rider who had shouted the warning.

The recovered evidence was marked, inventoried, and documented in the presence of the three arrested individuals, barangay officials, and the media representative, in accordance with established police procedures.

Police said all three suspects later tested positive for the use of shabu.

The suspects remain in police custody and are facing charges for alleged possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia under Sections 11 and 12, respectively, of Republic Act No. 9165.