Authorities confiscated about P850 million worth of shabu in a major buy-bust operation in Pangasinan on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the seized drugs weighed around 125 kilos and were packed in plastic tea bags. The operation was conducted with the Philippine National Police, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“This is the result or product of the continuous backtracking investigation we are conducting. This is an intelligence-driven operation of the agency,” PDEA spokesperson Atty. Frederick Calulut said.

Arrested were a 40-year-old Chinese national, identified as a high-value target and a resident of Cavite City, and his Filipino cohort, a 54-year-old native of Zamboanga del Sur.

Authorities also seized the van used by the suspects, a mobile phone, and P5 million in boodle money meant for five kilos of shabu.

Calulut said they are verifying the immigration records of the Chinese suspect.

“Tsini-check natin sa Bureau of Immigration ‘yung documentation ng taong ito. If he’s properly documented, kung pumasok ba siya legitimately sa ating bansa,” he said.

The suspects are now under police custody. Authorities believe they are linked to a wider drug group.

“Sa ngayon, tikom pa ‘yung bibig ng dalawa. Hindi pa nagsasalita. Kaya we are conducting our parallel and separate investigation,” Calulut added.

The seized drugs have been brought to the PDEA laboratory for documentation and analysis.

Follow-up operations are ongoing, as of press time, to identify the source and destination of the illegal shipment.