THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), together with other law enforcement agencies, recovered a total of ₱3,997,040,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, that were discovered off the shores of Pangasinan by local fishermen from June 5 to 6, 2025.
The shabu, which was placed inside a total of 588 vacuum-sealed transparent plastic packs, weighing approximately 587.8 kilograms, were found by 29 fisherfolks during their fishing activities.
The packs of shabu were surrendered by the fishermen to joint operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Navy (PN) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), in 19 turn over incidents that happened in the coastal barangays of Dacap Sur, Bani, Pangasinan; Boboy, Agno, Pangasinan; and Luciente I Balingasay, and Poblacion, all in Bolinao, Pangasinan.
“The retrieval operations highlight the strong inter-agency collaboration and cooperation among law enforcement agencies in protecting the country’s vast and porous coastlines from any threats of drug smuggling and trafficking”, said PDEA Director General Isagani R Nerez.
The support from partner agencies such as the PCG under Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan; the PNP under Police General Nicolas Torre III; the Philippine Navy under Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta; and the NBI under Director Jaime Santiago, to include the assistance from local government units of Agno, Bani and Bolinao, Pangasinan, ensures that maritime interests, coastal vigilance and safety of seaside communities prevail.
PDEA Regional Director, Regional Office I Joel Plaza, together with CG/Capt Mark Larsen Mariano of Coast Guard District Northwestern Luzon, Commo Ike Edward De Sagon PN of Northern Luzon Naval Command, Atty Joel Tovero of NBI 1, and PCol Ariel Capocao of Drug Enforcement Group 1, PLTC Santos Baldovizo of Regional Maritime Unit 1 and PCol Ricardo M David of Pangasinan PPO under PBGen Lou Evangelista of Police Regional Office 1, all of the Philippine National Police, are currently on the ground to ensure the ongoing turn over of illegal drugs will go smoothly and in accordance with the law. Continuous retrieval operations by the PCG and PN are happening on the surrounding seas of Pangasinan with the help of our LGUs and local fishermen.
Undersecretary Nerez said that the true heroes are the fishermen. “Even in their own small ways, they prioritized the safety and well-being of others over their own and stood up for what is right”, he added.
“President Ferdinand R Marcos, Jr. ordered the immediate destruction of the recovered illegal drugs. These illicit substances must be destroyed once and for all before they can cause harm to the Filipino people”, Director General Nerez expressed.
PDEA continues to forge partnerships with local communities, maritime stakeholders, and other government and law enforcement agencies to prevent the country’s seas from being used as dropping and transshipment points of dangerous drugs.
Last May 29, 2025, ₱1,514,054,000 worth of floating shabu found by 10 Bataan fishers off the waters of Masinloc, Zambales, was also surrendered to authorities.
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