Police arrested a 38-year-old man and seized around 12 grams of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Francisco here on 25 August.

The suspect, identified as “M,” married and a resident of San Fernando City, was arrested at around 7:30 a.m. in Purok 1, Barangay San Francisco, following an operation led by the City of San Fernando Police Station with support from various police units in La Union and Region 1.

Police said three heat-sealed plastic sachets containing about 12 grams of suspected shabu were recovered from the suspect. The seized drugs had an estimated street drug price of P81,600.

Also recovered were assorted drug paraphernalia, including a green lighter and two pieces of folded and rolled aluminum foil, along with a red metal candy canister, a black Vivo cellular phone and a brown wallet.

Police also seized P500 in genuine currency and two pieces of fake P1,000 bills.

The operation was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 1.

Police said the recovered evidence was marked and inventoried at the scene in the presence of the suspect and the required witnesses, as mandated by law.

The suspect was taken into police custody and is expected to face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.