Authorities have placed under its possession 24 blocks of shabu found floating at sea by fishermen in San Juan, Ilocos Norte. 

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the shabu weighed 23,919 grams and is valued at over P167.4 million.

Four fishermen from San Juan, Ilocos Sur, said they found the blocks in a sack 16 nautical miles off Badoc as they were sailing home. They approached the sack and punctured it, causing the blocks to scatter into the sea.

"Sa totoo lang talaga, akala namin pera kasi kwadrado nga, kaya binalikan namin [at] pinulot namin isa-isa… nung nandun pa lang kami binuksan namin ‘yung isa kasi tinignan namin akala nga namin pera e nakita na namin puti," Christopher Villaspir, one of the fishermen, said.

They took the blocks immediately to the barangay hall and reported it to the police. It was confirmed that the blocks were shabu. 

"Nakita natin na yun [ay] naglalaman ng mga pack white crystalline substance, then nag-request kami ng chemist [na] pumunta rin. Nag-on site screening test at lumabas na positive na shabu yung nakuha natin," PMAJ. Benjamin Raquedan, Officer-in-Charge of the San Juan Police Station, said.

The packages were sealed and labeled with Chinese tea pack markings. The PNP will determine what the Chinese characters on the packaging mean as it coordinates with other government agencies.

"Sabi ng PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency), yung mga dating nakukuha nila ganun din… makikipag coordinate tayo sa coast guard para makita natin kung sino yung mga dumadaang barko sa AOR natin," Raquedan said.