CAMP JUAN, Ilocos Norte – Packs of floating shabu continue to be discovered in the Ilocos region.
A pack of shabu was discovered in the shoreline of the West Philippine Sea in Barangay Balaoi, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte on Friday, July 20.
Police forensic experts confirmed that the recovered item was shabu weighing 998.32 grams and valued at P6.7 million.
A fisherman, Geronimo Calasag, 63, of Barangay Balaoi, found the contraband with Cai Yun Li marking while picking shells. The item was immediately brought to barangay officials.
Police Major Amiely Ann L. Navarro, forensic chemist, said substance testing was conducted in the presence of the police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and municipal officials led by Mayor Rafael Ralph L. Benemerito II.
This was third and latest pack of shabu recovered in Ilocos Norte. The first two were recovered in Burgos and Barangay Davila, Pasuquin.
Police Col. Frederick Obar, Ilocos Norte police chief, urged people of Ilocos Norte to remain vigilant in the campaign against illegal drugs. He commended fishermen for turning over their discoveries to authorities.
Drug pushers
Meanwhile, four suspected drug pushers were arrested in buy-bust operations in Mangaldan, Pangasinan and Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur.
PDEA-Region 1 (Ilocos) Director Joel B. Plaza identified the suspects as Arthur Peña Cabe, 44; Loreto M. Mariano Jr., 41; Lezter G. Mayrina, 36, and Ronnie M Ambat, 40.
Cabe was apprehended in Santa Maria on Sunday, July 21, while Mariano and companions were caught in Mangaldan on July 18.
Cabe yielded two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu weighing one gram worth P7,000, a cigarette box, a mobile phone, and the buy-bust money.
Discovered from Mariano and his companions were one knot-tied plastic containing shabu valued at P442,000.
Suspects face drug-related cases.