Fishermen caught an estimated ₱1.5 billion worth of suspected shabu in the waters off Masinloc, Zambales last Thursday, May 29.
In an exclusive interview with DZRH on Tuesday, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) spokesperson Atty. Joseph Calulut said the suspected illegal drugs were packed in 10 sacks, weighing a total of approximately 223 kilograms.
He further noted that the items were placed in vacuum-sealed packages labeled as frozen durian and tea, but upon inspection, they were found to contain illegal drugs.
Authorities suspect the illegal drugs were smuggled from the Golden Triangle—a known drug trafficking hotspot at the border of Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.
The area is frequently linked to drug trafficking, as it is reportedly where drug manufacturers and traffickers often operate in hiding.
Calulut emphasized that the recent discovery is the biggest illegal drug shipment retrieved from Philippine waters by PDEA in 2025.
In response, Calulut stated that the PDEA is strengthening its collaboration with coastal communities, particularly fishermen, to bolster surveillance and block the possible entry of drugs through similar maritime smuggling tactics.
"Ang PDEA, together also with the Philippine Coast Guard, nakikipag-ugnayan po tayo sa mga mangingisda ho natin, na kung mayroon silang marekober diyan sa mga karagatan ay ipagbigay-alam agad sa Philippine Coast Guard o PDEA," said Calulut.
The official gave assurance that PDEA personnel are strategically deployed at every port in the country, carrying out routine random inspections to safeguard Philippine borders from drug smuggling.
