A 47-year-old photographer was arrested after police seized around 1.5 grams of suspected shabu during a drug buy-bust operation in Sto. Tomas, La Union on Sunday, September 6.

The operation started at about 5:15 p.m. and resulted in the suspect’s arrest at 6:06 p.m., according to the Sto. Tomas Municipal Police Station.

Police personnel from the Sto. Tomas MPS, together with the La Union Provincial Intelligence Unit, La Union Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and La Union Provincial Intelligence and Drug Monitoring Unit, conducted the operation in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 1.

The suspect, a married resident of Sto. Tomas, was reportedly caught during the operation, which led to the seizure of three heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a total of approximately 1.5 grams of suspected shabu.

Police estimated the seized illegal drugs to have a standard drug price of P10,200.

Authorities also recovered the genuine P500 and P50 bills allegedly used in the transaction, along with a P1,000 boodle money bill used as buy-bust money. A Tecno Spark Android cellphone, a green Double Mint bottle bearing a signature, and a tricycle were also confiscated.

The seized items were inventoried and marked at the scene in the presence of the suspect and the required witnesses, in accordance with legal procedures.

The suspect is expected to face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, or Republic Act 9165.