Three drug suspects were arrested during a joint buy-bust operation that dismantled a drug den in Sablayan town on Saturday, authorities said.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro Provincial Office led the operation with support from the Occidental Mindoro Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Sablayan Municipal Police Station-Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit, Coast Guard Intelligence Unit, Coast Guard Station Occidental Mindoro, and Coast Guard Sub Station Sablayan.

The suspects were identified as alias Bernard, 35, a construction worker from Barangay Buenavista; alias Rosile, 32, a store vendor from Barangay Ligaya; and alias Jayson, 46, a laborer from Barangay Santo Niño. All are residents of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

The operation targeted a drug den in Barangay Ligaya, according to the team leader who conducted the buy-bust.

Authorities confiscated nine heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing approximately 7.09 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P48,212.

Several drug paraphernalia were also recovered.

The suspects are currently in custody and will face charges for violating Article II of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.