Farmer arrested after suspected shabu spotted during Sinait checkpoint

A 29-year-old farmer from Badoc, Ilocos Norte was arrested after police allegedly spotted suspected shabu in plain view during a checkpoint operation in Sinait, Ilocos Sur shortly after midnight on September 23, 2026.

The checkpoint operation started at 12:30 a.m. along the National Highway in Sinait as police conducted a scheduled checkpoint covering the night of September 22 until the early hours of September 23.

Police said the suspect was traveling southbound aboard a black Suzuki Raider motorcycle when he was flagged down for allegedly failing to wear the prescribed protective helmet and reflectorized vest.

During verification, the designated searcher asked the suspect to present his driver's license and the motorcycle's official receipt and certificate of registration.

According to police, the suspect voluntarily opened the motorcycle's compartment to retrieve the documents, prompting the searcher to see in plain view a glass tooter and a transparent plastic sachet containing suspected illegal drugs inside an open Marlboro Red cigarette box.

The suspect was immediately arrested and informed of the nature of the offense and his constitutional rights. Police also issued him a citation ticket for the traffic violations.

Authorities recovered one gram of suspected shabu valued at P6,800, along with the glass tooter, three genuine P1,000 bills, a lighter, the cigarette box and the motorcycle.

Police said the seized evidence was inventoried and marked on site in the presence of the suspect and mandatory witnesses, as required by law.

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