OVER P104 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, was fished out by fishermen in the waters off Cagayan.
In a statement, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said local fishers spotted a sack floating between the territorial waters of Babuyan Island and Gonzaga, Cagayan, on June 16, 2025.
On June 17, they found another package in the sea waters connecting Camiguin Island and Cape Engaño, Barangay San Vicente, Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
After their fishing activities, the local fishermen turned over what they recovered to the authorities.
The first sack contained 15 plastic packs of suspected shabu, weighing roughly 15 kilograms and worth P102,000,000, while the second package contained 400 grams of illegal drugs valued at P2,720,000.
PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez commended the honesty of the concerned fishermen.
“The honest acts of fishermen, the prompt response and proper turnover of the floating contraband to authorities, and the steady sea surveillance and patrolling are all part of a holistic approach to curb the flow of illegal drugs in the coastal areas of Cagayan Province. We do not want these dangerous substances to fall into the clutches of the wrong people,” Nerez said.
Earlier, over P8 billion worth of shabu was recovered in the waters off Zambales, Ilocos Sur, and Pangasinan in several incidents.
Nerez said an in-depth investigation is currently underway to determine the place of origin of the recovered shabu that was offloaded within the waters of the provinces in Luzon for pick-up by intended recipients.
“We are appealing to the public: if and when you stumble upon any of the floating contraband, do not hesitate to report it to the authorities. Doing so will help shield our communities from the sinister ways of illegal drugs,” Nerez said. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)