Suspected P4B worth of shabu found floating off Pangasinan waters
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Suspected P4B worth of shabu found floating off Pangasinan waters
PDEA agents inspect sacks that contain what is suspected to be shabu. The sacks were found floating in the waters off three coastal towns in Pangasinan. Handout/Coast Guard District North West Luzon
PDEA agents inspect sacks that contain what is suspected to be shabu. The sacks were found floating in the waters off three coastal towns in Pangasinan. Handout/Coast Guard District North West LuzonMANILA -- Authorities recovered nearly ₱4 billion worth of suspected shabu floating in the waters off three coastal towns in Pangasinan.
MANILA -- Authorities recovered nearly ₱4 billion worth of suspected shabu floating in the waters off three coastal towns in Pangasinan.
The drugs are believed to be part of an international smuggling operation.
The drugs are believed to be part of an international smuggling operation.
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), local fishermen discovered the contraband in the waters of Bolinao, Bani, and Agno.
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), local fishermen discovered the contraband in the waters of Bolinao, Bani, and Agno.
Initially mistaking the floating sacks for food, the fishermen were surprised to find sealed plastic packs containing what turned out to be illegal drugs.
Initially mistaking the floating sacks for food, the fishermen were surprised to find sealed plastic packs containing what turned out to be illegal drugs.
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"No'ng pumunta sila sa dagat kasi nga mangingisda sila. May nakita silang lumulutang na sako. Pagsilip, may nakita na mga packaging. Selyado pa nga 'yong packaging. 'Yong iba durian. 'Yong iba naman tsaa," said Atty. Joseph Frederick Calulut, spokesperson of PDEA.
"No'ng pumunta sila sa dagat kasi nga mangingisda sila. May nakita silang lumulutang na sako. Pagsilip, may nakita na mga packaging. Selyado pa nga 'yong packaging. 'Yong iba durian. 'Yong iba naman tsaa," said Atty. Joseph Frederick Calulut, spokesperson of PDEA.
The fishermen immediately reported the incident to the Philippine Coast Guard which then alerted PDEA.
The fishermen immediately reported the incident to the Philippine Coast Guard which then alerted PDEA.
A joint retrieval operation from Friday to Saturday yielded almost 600 sealed plastic packs floating in the sea, weighing over half a ton.
A joint retrieval operation from Friday to Saturday yielded almost 600 sealed plastic packs floating in the sea, weighing over half a ton.
The estimated street value of the drugs is close to ₱4 billion, according to PDEA.
The estimated street value of the drugs is close to ₱4 billion, according to PDEA.
"Based on the packaging that we recovered parehas ho siya doon din sa na-recover natin sa Zambales. Ayon sa ating mga international counterparts, ito ay nanggaling sa golden triangle…. When we speak of golden triangle, this consists of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos," Calulut added.
"Based on the packaging that we recovered parehas ho siya doon din sa na-recover natin sa Zambales. Ayon sa ating mga international counterparts, ito ay nanggaling sa golden triangle…. When we speak of golden triangle, this consists of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos," Calulut added.
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PDEA also believes the large quantity of drugs suggests the Philippines may have been used as a transshipment point.
PDEA also believes the large quantity of drugs suggests the Philippines may have been used as a transshipment point.
"Probably meron na 'yang contact sa loob na pupunta doon sa dagat to get these dangerous drugs at saka ipupuslit sa loob ng Pilipinas. But with the volume kasi masyadong marami 'yong mga nakuha, we believe hindi lang for Philippine market 'yan, baka ang mangyari diyan we will just be a transhipment point," Calulut added.
"Probably meron na 'yang contact sa loob na pupunta doon sa dagat to get these dangerous drugs at saka ipupuslit sa loob ng Pilipinas. But with the volume kasi masyadong marami 'yong mga nakuha, we believe hindi lang for Philippine market 'yan, baka ang mangyari diyan we will just be a transhipment point," Calulut added.
The recovered items have been brought to PDEA's laboratory for further examination.
The recovered items have been brought to PDEA's laboratory for further examination.
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