Floating bag with illegal drugs recovered from West Philippine Sea

A bag found floating in the waters near Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Saturday yielded suspected illegal drugs, the Philippine Navy said.

According to the Navy, the Maritime Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary Unit–West (MCAAU-W) received information on Friday night about the said black bag believed to be containing high-grade marijuana.

The MCAAU-W then coordinated with the Philippine Navy's Western Naval Command, which in turn directed the BRP Lolinato To-Ong to proceed to the area.

The BRP Lolinato To-Ong and the MCAAU-W located the suspicious bag and recovered it early Saturday morning.

The bag and its contents were then turned over by the Philippine Navy and personnel from the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of the Palawan Police Provincial Office (PPO) to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Palawan at the pier in Puerto Princesa City on Monday for evaluation and proper disposition.

According to PDEA, the black bag yielded 32 clear and black plastic bags containing approximately 16 kilograms of suspected high-grade marijuana kush, estimated to be worth P19.2 million.

"PDEA Palawan has since initiated the evaluation, field testing, and official inventory of the seized items, with appropriate disposition procedures now underway," it said. —KG, GMA Integrated News