Painter arrested in Ilocos Norte drug sting; firearm seized

A 28-year-old painter was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Marcos, Ilocos Norte, on 27 October, yielding suspected shabu and an improvised firearm, police said.

Personnel of the Marcos Municipal Police Station, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 1, carried out the operation with support from the Regional Intelligence Unit 1 and the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office.

The operation, conducted between 7:25 a.m. and 11:40 a.m., resulted in the arrest of the suspect, a married resident of Marcos.

Police seized two heat-sealed plastic sachets containing a total of one gram of suspected shabu, with an estimated standard drug price of P6,800.

Authorities also recovered a PHP 1,000 bill allegedly used as buy-bust money, an improvised single-shot .45-caliber firearm, and four rounds of .45-caliber ammunition.

Other items seized included a pack of Marlboro Black cigarettes and two small black pouches.

Police said the inventory and marking of the seized evidence were conducted at the scene in the presence of the suspect and the required witnesses, in accordance with legal procedures.

The suspect was taken into police custody for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges.