24 packs of suspected shabu worth P162 M found floating on WPS in Ilocos Sur

CAMP PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Bantay, Ilocos Sur – Two fishermen found 24 packs of suspected shabu floating on the West Philippine Sea west of Barangay Solotsolot, San Juan, Ilocos Sur on Monday, June 24.

Police Major Benjamin Raquedan, town chief of police, said the fishermen noticed packs of transparent plastic floating on the sea on their way home from fishing on board a motor banca.

“Out of curiosity, they brought along the said floating packs and they found out that these packs contain crystalline substance; and they reported immediately to our police station for proper disposition,” said Raquedan.

He said that each pack had Chinese markings indicating their estimated weight of more or less one kilogram.

Raquedan said these were brought to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory for further examination and determine their value.

Initial tests conducted by the Provincial Forensic Unit identified them as shabu.  Follow-up tests  by the Provincial Forensics Unit confirmed them as shabu.

They weighed almost 24 kilos with an estimated value of P162.6 million. 

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 1 is investigating the floating shabu and Police Regional Office-1 chief Police Brig. Gen. Lou F. Evangelista cited community cooperation in the discovery.

Evangelista assured that PRO-1 is committed to maintaining public safety and encouraged the people to be vigilant and report floating contraband to authorities.

Police are conducting follow-up investigation to locate the source of the illegal drug.