A backhoe operator from the City Engineering Office was successfully arrested in an anti-illegal drug buy-bust operation in Barangay 56-B Bacsil, Laoag City.
The suspect was identified as 59-year-old Washington Nicolas, a resident of Barangay 54-A Lagui-Sail, Laoag City.
Authorities apprehended the suspect after he allegedly sold a cigarette box containing a heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer.
In addition to this, law enforcement officers confiscated another cigarette box from the suspect, which contained four more heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu.
Following the arrest, authorities immediately secured the seized illegal substances as evidence against the suspect.
Reports indicate that the suspect was operating a backhoe at the time of the arrest when he noticed unidentified men approaching him.