CURRIMAO, Ilocos Norte – A pack of floating shabu weighing one kilogram and valued at P6.8 million was recovered by a local tourist in the West Philippine Sea here on Thursday, June 12.
P6.8-M floating shabu recovered in Ilocos Norte
Published Jun 13, 2025 01:05 pm
Police Brig. Gen. Lou F. Evangelista, Police Regional Office-1 director, said the contraband was spotted in a sea rock formation in Barangay Pangil.
SOME packs of floating shabu recovered in the West Philippine Sea in the Ilocos region. (FB)
The package, wrapped in transparent plastic and secured with packing tape, bore an image of a durian fruit and distinct Chinese characters.
The discovery was reported to the police here who coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Ilocos Norte to conduct on-site inventory and preliminary testing.
Testing witnessed by barangay officials and media representatives confirmed the substance to be shabu.
The illegal drug is under the custody of the PDEA-Ilocos Norte for comprehensive forensic examination and detailed inventory that will aid ongoing investigation.
"This successful operation is a testament to the vigilance of both the authorities and the public. This underscores the critical role of the community in the fight against illegal drugs,” said Evangelista.
“The recurring discovery of floating shabu in our regional waters, now extending to Ilocos Norte following incidents in Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur, underscores a clear pattern of drug trafficking. We are working tirelessly with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to investigate the origins and intended destinations of these drugs,” he added.
He said that they are continuously intensifying its intelligence-gathering efforts to identify and apprehend the individuals responsible for the illicit trade and prevent future attempts to smuggle narcotics through the region's coastal areas.
Evangelista thanked vigilant communities of Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur for their role in the recovery of 1,039 kilograms of shabu in the West Philippine Sea valued at P7 billion from June 5 to 10.
Fifty-one sacks of shabu were retrieved from the coastline of Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur.
Forty-eight were recovered in Agno, Bani, and Bolinao in Pangasinan.
Two sacks and one plastic bag were turned over in Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur and another sack was recovered in Magsingal.
“The swift action and keen observation of our fisherfolk communities were vital in this significant recovery," said Evangelista.
"Their immediate reporting and turnover of these suspected illegal drugs demonstrate the invaluable impact of strong police-community partnerships. This proves that when the community and law enforcement work hand-in-hand, we can achieve remarkable results in safeguarding our community.”
The PDEA-Region 1 said they exert all efforts to ensure the prompt destruction of the recovered illegal drugs in compliance with the directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to keep every Filipino safe.
PRO-1 and law enforcement and maritime partners reaffirmed their resolute commitment to protect Philippine waters from being used for drug trafficking by strengthening intelligence coordination and community engagement.
Evangelista urged people to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious findings to authorities. Cooperation is a very important part of collective security, he said.
The PDEA bared that “Sam Gor,” a vast international crime syndicate, is primarily responsible for the dumping of the more than one ton of shabu in the West Philippine Sea.
Sam Gor operates in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines. It is believed to control 40 to 70 percent of the drug market in the region, with profits of up to more than $17 billion a year.
The syndicate also funnels big proportions of heroin, ketamine, other synthetic drugs, and precursor chemicals.
PDEA chief Undersecretary Isagani Nerez
said packaging of the contraband is associated with Sam Gor.