Fishermen find 2 sacks of suspected illegal drugs in Ilocos Sur

At least two sacks of suspected illegal drugs were found by two fishermen off the coast of Sta. Cruz in Ilocos Sur, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Sunday. 

In a statement, PCG said the recently found sacks bear the same type of packaging as those found in waters off Pangasinan, which suggests these drifted northward with the current. 

On Friday, the Coast Guard seized P1.7 billion worth of suspected shabu recovered by local fisherfolk in the vicinity of the Pangasinan coast.

The next day, over 20 sacks of suspected shabu were also recovered from Pangasinan waters. 

“This incident has shown that our fishermen are not just guardians of our marine resources but also valuable allies in the fight against crime,” said Captain Mark Larsen Mariano, the commander of Coast Guard District Northwestern Luzon. 

“Their honesty and quick response have kept billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs from reaching our communities and potentially ruining the lives of millions of Filipinos,” he added.

PCG also said it will continue to monitor nearby waters since data suggest that more illegal drugs may still be drifting north. 

It also urged residents to be alert and report any suspicious floating package to authorities. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News