THE sacks of shabu found by a fisherman off Bataan a few days ago weighed 222.65 kilos with a street value of P1.5 billion, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said yesterday.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which disclosed the seizure of the illegal drugs last Monday, said the shabu was placed inside 10 sacks, not nine as initially reported.
“The shabu, with an estimated street value of ₱1.5 billion, was contained in 10 sacks holding 223 assorted vacuum-sealed transparent plastic packs,” PDEA said in a statement.
The PCG earlier said the shabu was found by a fisherman while fishing off Mariveles town last March 29. Out of fear, the fisherman, who was not named, secured the shabu aboard a grounded barge.
The fisherman later reported his find to the PCG, leading to the inspection and seizure of the illegal drugs last Monday. The drugs were later turned over to the PDEA.
PDEA Central Luzon director Jigger Montallana has ordered an investigation to determine the source of the illegal drugs. The probe is being conducted in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and local government units.
“The PDEA will continuously monitor all suspicious activities and remain steadfast in its commitment to eradicating drug smuggling in Central Luzon,” Montallana said.
The PCG, in a separate statement yesterday, said the law enforcement operation was anchored on President Marcos Jr.’s instruction to “intensify operations towards the eradication of illegal drugs in the country.
“The joint law enforcement team also confirmed a total of ten sacks, instead of nine as earlier reported, containing suspected narcotics,” the PCG said, adding an inventory showed the seized shabu weighed 222.65 kilos.
Five of the sacks contained 116 vacuum-sealed packs labeled “Daguanyin,” the PCG said.,
Four other sacks contained 100 vacuum-sealed packs labelled Freso Dried “Durien” while one sack contained seven transparent packs of shabu.
The drug seizure is one of the largest under the administration of President Marcos Jr. The largest drug haul in Philippine history was 1.4 tons of shabu worth P9.6 billion seized in Alitagtag, Batangas, in April last year.
Meanwhile, authorities arrested a 28-year-old female consignee at the Central Mail Exchange Center, Domestic Road in Pasay City on Monday.
The suspect, identified only as Ruth, was arrested after claiming a package, containing a little over a kilo of shabu worth P6.85 million, PDEA said.
The package was declared as ladies’ wear and bags and was shipped from Ontario, Canada.
PDEA said the suspect told authorities that she was not aware the package contained illegal drugs.
Also seized from the suspect were a mobile phone, a notice card, and several identification cards.
