The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) tagged the  international crime syndicate, “Sam Gor"’ as behind the multi-billion peso worth of shabu that were  found in the waters of Zambales, Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur.

PDEA Director General Isagani R. Nerez said  “Sam Gor is a five-drug triad alliance’’ composed of  the “14K, Bamboo Union, Big Circle Gang, Sun Yeen On, and Wo Shing Wo, whose leaders are based in Hongkong and Taiwan.’’

He noted that the members of the syndicate simply refer to it as “The Company.’’

Nerez said that reports revealed that the “Sam Gor Group’’ operates in various countries across the Asia-Pacific Region, including the Philippines. 

Further the PDEA explained that the syndicate is largely involved in trafficking “methamphetamine and is believed to have an estimated 40 to 70 percent control of the drug market in the region, raking up profits up to more than $17billion in revenue a year.’’

Aside from shabu, the syndicate also funnels big proportions of heroin, ketamine, other synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals, the PDEA added.

“Sam Gor is named after the nickname of its suspected founder/leader, “Tse Chi Lop”, a Chinese-Canadian who was arrested four years ago in the Netherlands and was eventually extradited to Australia in Dec. 2022 to face drug trafficking charges. He is considered as Asia’s “El Chapo,’’ the PDEA disclosed.

Based on the packaging of the recovered shabu packs in the local shores, Nerez pointed out that they were contained in tea bags with Chinese markings, a signature trademark associated with Sam Gor.

“Sam Gor gained notoriety by engaging in all sorts of unconventional methods of drug smuggling, including the use of the high seas. They dump their illicit goods to be retrieved later by contact local cohorts. It's a good thing that our hero fishermen got there first before the drugs fell into the wrong hands, Nerez said.

Sowing courage and vigilance, 56 local fishermen have already surrendered a total of 1,038 kilos of suspected shabu worth P7,058,400,000 in 40 turnover incidents to authorities, as of June 9, 2025, marking one of the country’s largest maritime seizures of illegal drugs in recent years.

The shabu packs were found washed ashore in the coastal areas of Dacap Sur, Bani; Boboy and Macaboboni, Agno; and Luciente I, Balingasay, Concordia and Poblacion, Bolinao—all located in the province of Pangasinan and Barangay Mantanas and Dili, Sta Cruz, Ilocos Sur.

Last May 29, P1,514,054,000 worth of shabu found by 10 Bataan fishers off the waters of Masinloc, Zambales, were also surrendered to authorities on June 2, 2025.

“The sheer volume of surrendered illegal drugs is a resounding testament to the vigilance and integrity of our coastal communities. Honest deeds are always rewarded. Our hero fishermen will be given due recognition,”Nerez stressed.

“Retrieval operations by joint operatives of PDEA Regional Office I; the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Northwestern Luzon; Philippine Navy (PN) Northern Luzon Naval Command; National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 1; and local units of the Philippine National Police (PNP), are still ongoing.  The PCG and PN continue to patrol nearby waters with the unwavering support of the local government units of Agno, Bani and Bolinao of Pangasinan, and Sta. Cruz of Ilocos Sur and surrounding coastal communities,’’ the PDEA bared.

Earlier, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. ordered the immediate destruction of the recovered illegal drugs “to ensure that these harmful substances are out of reach of society.’’

“The President has spoken. PDEA will exert its utmost effort towards the prompt destruction of the illegal drugs and keep every Filipino out of harm’s way. We will pursue the key perpetrators behind this transnational crime as we remain vigilant not only in safeguarding our seas but also protecting our land and air from drug trafficking woes,’’ Nerez noted.

The and other law enforcement and maritime partners reaffirmed their commitment to protect the Philippine waters from becoming corridors of drug trafficking by strengthening intelligence coordination and community engagement.