Three persons were arrested and a total of 1.86 grams of suspected shabu were seized in two separate buy-bust operations in Ilocos Sur on August 16, police reported.

The first operation was conducted in Bantay from 3:30 p.m. to 5:40 p.m., resulting in the arrest of two alleged street-level individuals identified as “M,” 36, single and unemployed, and another “M,” 28, married and a tricycle driver. Both suspects are residents of Vigan City.

The operation was led by the Bantay Municipal Police Station, with personnel from the Ilocos Sur Provincial Intelligence Unit, Ilocos Sur Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, 1st Ilocos Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Ilocos Sur Provincial Office.

Police said the operation resulted in the seizure of six heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a combined 1.5 grams of suspected shabu, with a stated standard drug price of ₱10,200.

Authorities also recovered a genuine ₱1,000 bill used as buy-bust money, a coin purse, a yellow paper, a small sheet of paper, a glass tooter, an orange lighter, a Samsung touchscreen mobile phone, and a black Kawasaki Barako tricycle.

A separate operation was conducted in Cabugao, leading to the arrest of a 26-year-old construction worker identified as “M,” who has a live-in partner and is a resident of Cabugao.

The operation was led by the Cabugao Municipal Police Station, with assistance from the Ilocos Sur Provincial Intelligence Unit and Ilocos Sur Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, in coordination with PDEA Region 1.

Police said the suspect was found in possession of one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing 0.36 gram of suspected shabu, with a stated standard drug price of ₱2,448.

Also seized were a gold iPhone 7 Plus, a genuine ₱1,000 bill used as buy-bust money, two empty plastic sachets, a green LandBank card sleeve or holder, and an orange Cricket lighter.

Authorities said the inventory and marking of the confiscated items in both operations were conducted on-site in the presence of the suspects and mandatory witnesses, as required by law.

The arrested individuals and seized evidence were placed under police custody for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges.