SHABU AT SEA. Cops inspect the recovered pack of shabu worth approximately P6.8 million in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte on Monday (June 16, 2025). (Photo courtesy of Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office)
LAOAG CITY 鈥� A kilo of shabu approximately worth P6.8 million was recovered off Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte on Monday morning, police said.
The Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) said a 44-year-old fisher noticed a floating plastic package about two miles from the Pasaleng shoreline at about 10:30 a.m.
The package has markings of durian-like fruit with Chinese characters and the number 鈥�66.鈥�
The Regional Border Control and Pagudpud Police Station were then alerted about the discovery.
The package is now under the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Ilocos Norte for proper disposition.
Fisherfolk in Zambales, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan have recovered over 1,300 kilograms of shabu worth nearly P9 billion since June 2, according to PDEA.
On Sunday, the PDEA said more 鈥渇loating鈥� illegal drugs were discovered in Barangay Centro 6, Claveria, Cagayan.
Weighing 45.6 kilograms with an estimated street value of P310 million, the drugs were packed in 50 gold tea bags labeled 鈥淒aguanyin鈥� with Chinese character markings.
In a news release last week, PDEA tagged Sam Gor, an international crime syndicate, as the group behind the dumping of more than one ton of shabu that were discovered in Philippine waters recently.
According to reports, Sam Gor Group operates in various countries across the Asia-Pacific Region, including the Philippines.
It is largely involved in trafficking shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and is believed to have an estimated 40 to 70 percent control of the drug market in the region.
It is reportedly racking up profits of up to more than 17 billion US dollars a year.
Aside from shabu, the syndicate also funnels big proportions of heroin, ketamine and other synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals.
As of this posting, the Ilocos Norte police was conducting seaborne patrol, complemented by massive information drives.
鈥淲e encourage our coastal communities to coordinate with the police who are monitoring our coastlines. If ever they found one, please surrender [it] immediately,鈥� Police Regional Office-Ilocos chief Brig. Gen. Lou Evangelista said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a directive for the immediate destruction of the recovered illegal drugs to ensure that the harmful substances are out of society鈥檚 reach. /apl