More sacks of suspected shabu recovered off Pangasinan waters

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday reported that over 20 sacks of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu were recovered off the coastal waters of Pangasinan.

This comes after the seizure of P1.17 billion worth of suspected shabu by the PCG in the same area last week, bringing the total to 28 sacks of illegal substance. 

“The latest finds came from a combination of Coast Guard maritime patrols and swift reporting of fisherfolk, who have been instrumental in ensuring the safe turnover of these contrabands,” said the Coast Guard District Northwestern Luzon in a statement.

The PCG said that the operations for the seizure were conducted from June 5 to June 6.

The latest recovery amounted to P3 billion, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

"The shabu, which was placed inside a total of 588 vacuum-sealed transparent plastic packs, weighing approximately 587.8 kilograms, were found by 29 fisherfolks during their fishing activities," said PDEA.

 “The retrieval operations highlight the strong inter-agency collaboration and cooperation among law enforcement agencies in protecting the country’s vast and porous coastlines from any threats of drug smuggling and trafficking,” said PDEA Director General Isagani R Nerez. 

Meanwhile, the PCG said that heightened coastal security patrols and community engagement initiatives are ongoing following the seizures. 

“Residents and fishermen are continuously being reminded that possession or tampering with suspicious packages could lead to criminal charges and discovery of such items should be immediately reported to the nearest PCG unit,” said PCG Northwestern Luzon Commander, Captain Mark Larsen Mariano.

“The investigation remains ongoing to determine the source and intended recipients of the recovered illegal drugs,” added Mariano. —VAL, GMA Integrated News