2 packs of shabu found in Ilocos Norte

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Two packs of suspected shabu were found in the waters off Currimao, Ilocos Norte on Thursday.

The packages, wrapped in transparent plastic bags with Chinese markings, were similar to the ones retrieved by fishermen in the waters off Zambales, Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur last week.

Police said the first package was found by a tourist on a rock formation in Barangay Pangil.

Members of the Currimao police and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the package contained a kilo of shabu with an estimated street value of P6.8 million.

The second package was spotted by a minor floating near the coast of Barangay Callaguip.

The minor informed his mother, who reported the matter to barangay officials.

“The recurring discovery of floating shabu in our regional waters, now extending to Ilocos Norte following incidents in Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur, shows a clear pattern of drug trafficking. We are working with the PDEA to determine the origin and destination of the illegal drugs,” Brig. Gen. Lou Evangelista, Ilocos police director, said.