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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH Navy links P10-B 'shabu' haul to China

PH Navy links P10-B 'shabu' haul to China

Published Jun 24, 2025 03:12 pm
The Philippine Navy's Northern Luzon Naval Command (NLNC) intercept 1.5 tons of crystal meth or
The Philippine Navy's Northern Luzon Naval Command (NLNC) intercept 1.5 tons of crystal meth or "shabu" aboard a fishing vessel off the coast of Zambales on June 20, 2025. The seized drugs had an estimated street value of P10 billion. (Photo: NLNC)
The record P10-billion crystal meth (shabu) haul seized by the Philippine Navy (PN) off the coast of Zambales last week has Chinese-looking markings and the fishing boat where the illegal drugs were found was boarded by a Chinese-Malaysian suspect.
This was the revelation made by Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad on Tuesday, June 24, leading him to believe that the foiled shipment of 1.3 tons of shabu to Manila could all be a part of an elaborate plan by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) “to destroy the future generation of Filipinos.”
“It's not far-fetched na ito ay galing o isang effort ng Chinese Communist Party (It's not far-fetched that this comes from or is an effort by the Chinese Communist Party),” he told reporters on Tuesday, June 24.
“We don't have to look far from the side of law enforcement, we look for evidence. On the military, we look for indicators,” he added.
When asked about the purpose why China could be behind the shipment, Trinidad said: “Upang sirain ang kinabukasan ng isang bansa, buhusan mo ng maraming illicit na droga, illegal na droga para ang kabataan ay masira ang tamang pag-iisip (To destroy the future of a nation, flood it with illicit drugs, illegal drugs, so that the youth would lose their proper way of thinking).”
This was also the reason why the Navy has intensified its patrol operations around the country’s vast maritime territory in adherence to the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).
Trinidad said the Navy now extends the coverage of its maritime and air patrol all the way beyond the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“And this particular operation where we seized 1.5 tons of illegal drugs is a result of your AFP conducting comprehensive archipelagic defense operations,” the admiral said.
To recall, the Northern Luzon Naval Command (NLNC) intercepted approximately 1.5 tons of shabu with an estimated street value of P10 billion, some 93 kilometers off the coast of Zambales on June 20. The illegal drugs were placed in plastic packs aboard a fishing vessel.
The boat was boarded by four Filipino fishermen and a foreign national. The Navy said it was the biggest illegal drug haul in its history.
The seized drugs were transported to Naval Operating Base in Subic for proper documentation and official turnover to concerned authorities.
As of this writing, the Chinese government, through its embassy in Manila, has yet to issue a statement about the Navy’s remarks.

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Philippine Navy shabu illegal drugs Zambales China
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