The sacks of suspected shabu found earlier by fishermen off the Zambales coast have unraveled into a staggering P1.5 billion drug haul.

A group of fishermen discovered sacks filled with suspected shabu near Bajo de Masinloc around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 29.

Thinking the sacks contained food, they took them aboard.

“Nung nakita po nilang palutang-lutang banda nga po sa western part po ng Masinloc, then kinuha po nila… When they arrived sa Mariveles, kumontak po sila ng Philippine Coast Guard,” Glenn Guillermo, spokesperson for PDEA Region 3, said.

The fishermen surrendered the items to authorities in Mariveles, Bataan, on Monday, June 2.

According to PDEA, the 10 sacks contained 222.655 kilograms of suspected shabu packed in 223 vacuum-sealed transparent plastic packs. The estimated value is close to P1.5 billion.

“Hindi naman natin pwedeng sabihing illegal drug trade ‘yan kasi lumulutang [lang] eh. So kung intended po talaga ‘yan for illegal drug trade, sana may kumuha na doon… Hindi natin alam kung ‘yun ay sinadyang iwanan doon para lumutang o aksidente lang na lumutang doon at nalaglag sa dagat,” Guillermo said.

Police Regional Office 3 said the Philippine National Police, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Coast Guard will conduct a joint operation in the area where the sacks were found.

“Sabi po ng mga nakakita ng mga sako ng hinihinalang droga, marami pa po silang nakita doon. Dahil ang nabitbit lang po nila ay ’yung kaya lang po nilang kuhanin… baka lumubog po ang kanilang bangka,” PRO-3 Director PBGen. Jean Fajardo said.

“Dahil mula Zambales, dinala pa po nila ’yon doon po sa Bataan… kaya po ang pulis ng probinsya ng Bataan at Zambales ay magtutulungan po… baka sakaling may makita po tayong lumulutang na bahagi po nitong narekober po nating ilegal na droga,” she added.

The packs of suspected shabu will undergo forensic examination at PDEA’s regional laboratory.