San Fernando drug busts net four arrests

Four people were arrested in two separate buy-bust operations in San Fernando City, La Union, that resulted in the confiscation of a total of five grams of suspected shabu valued at P34,000 based on the standard drug price.

The first operation was conducted at around 10:45 a.m. on August 23 by the La Union Police Drug Enforcement Unit (LUPDEU), together with the PDEA Region 1 Regional Special Enforcement Team, PDEA La Union Provincial Office, and the San Fernando City Police Station.

The operation led to the arrest of a 25-year-old single male veterinary technician and resident of Lingsat, San Fernando City, following a drug transaction with an undercover police operative.

Authorities recovered one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing approximately one gram of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P6,800.

Also seized were one genuine P500 bill used as buy-bust money, four photocopied P500 bills used as boodle money, one Camel cigarette box, and one green plastic container.

A second buy-bust operation was conducted at around 10 p.m. on August 23 by the San Fernando City Police Station as lead unit, with personnel from RID1, RDEU, TSCRMFB1, LUPDEU, LUPIU, PDEG SOU1, 1st LUPMFC, 2nd LUPMFC, and LUMARPSTA, in coordination with PDEA Region 1.

The operation resulted in the arrest of three suspects: a 42-year-old single male tricycle driver, a 44-year-old single male, and a 46-year-old female, all residents of San Fernando City.

Police recovered four grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P27,200. The suspected drugs were contained in three heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets and one folded aluminum foil.

Authorities also recovered a white box containing drug paraphernalia, including two orange lighters and six folded or rolled aluminum foils, as well as two other lighters, two rolled pieces of aluminum foil, three cellular phones, and one genuine P500 bill used as buy-bust money.

The confiscated mobile phones included a rose gold iPhone, a blue Infinix, and a black Infinix.

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

The four arrested suspects and the confiscated evidence were turned over to the appropriate authorities for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges.