P4.3-B shabu found so far in West Philippine Sea in Pangasinan
Published Jun 7, 2025 05:53 pm
CAMP FLORENDO, San Fernando City, La Union – Police estimated the value of suspected shabu found floating in the West Philippine Sea in Pangasinan this week at P4.3 billion.
Twenty-eight sacks and more than 400 sealed packs have so far been found as of 7 a.m. today, Saturday, June 7.
Police Lt. Col. Benigno Sumawang, public information officer of the Police Regional Office-1 (Ilocos), said Police Brig. Gen. Lou F. Evangelista, PRO-1 chief, is overseeing, with the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 1, surveillance and monitoring operations on the West Philippine Sea in Pangasinan, with fishermen and local officials.
Pangasinan Gov. Ramon Guico III, in a statement on Saturday, commended fisherfolk, PDEA, PCG, and the Philippine National Police for the recovery of the illegal drugs.
"Kahanga-hanga ang pagiging mapagmatyag at alerto ng mga mangingisda dahil matapos marekober ang mga kontrabando ay agad ipinasakamay sa mga otoridad. Ito ay malaking tagumpay sa ating laban kontra sa ilegal na droga (The monitoring and alertness of the fishermen are praiseworthy since they immediately turned over the contraband to the authorities. This is a huge success in our fight against illegal drugs)," he said.
Guico appealed for a deeper investigation to determine the sources and punish those involved in the illegal drugs trade.
All recovered floating shabu were subjected to examination by the PDEA Region-1 and Pangasinan Forensic Unit for validation and documentation.
These were found and turned over by fishermen from the towns of Agno, Bani, and Bolinao in Pangasinan.
Evangelista called on fishermen on coastal areas in Region 1 to immediately report suspicious floating objects they recover on the WPS to authorities.