BY: JOSE ROBERT INVENTOR

Three individuals, including two women and a minor, were arrested in separate anti-drug operations conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and local police in Laoag City and Bacnotan, La Union.

On April 21, a buy-bust operation led to the arrest of two women—one aged 29 and the other 17— in Barangay 2, Sta. Joaquina, Laoag City.

Authorities confiscated three sachets of suspected shabu weighing 2.1 grams and valued at P23,800.

According to PCpt. Rogeline Ibe of the Women and Children Protection Desk in Laoag City, the suspects were listed under the station’s street-level drug watchlist.

The 29-year-old is now in PDEA custody, while the minor was turned over to the Laoag City Social Welfare and Development Office.

In a separate operation on April 20, PDEA agents arrested a 38-year-old man identified only as “Alias Mata” in Barangay San Martin, Bacnotan, La Union.

He allegedly sold three sachets of shabu worth 13,000 pesos to an undercover agent.

The suspect is currently detained at the PDEA Regional Office 1 jail facility in Camp Diego Silang, Carlatan, San Fernando City.

All three suspects face charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.