Fishing Vessel carrying approximately 1.5 Tons of Shabu worth P10.2B intercepted off the waters of Zambales

A fishing vessel carrying approximately one and a half tons of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, with an estimated street price of ₱10,200,000,000.00, was intercepted off the waters of the province of Zambales past midnight on June 20, 2025.

Onboard the vessel, a Philippine-registered fishing boat, was a foreign national of Chinese-Malaysian descent believed to be a member of Sam Gor International Crime Syndicate – the same drug cartel behind the recent dumping of floating shabu in the coastal areas of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan.

Aboard a navy ship, combined operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine Navy-Northern Luzon Naval Command, in close coordination with elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Drug Enforcement Group and Police Regional Office 3, successfully intercepted the sea vessel and foiled one of the largest drug trafficking attempts in the country’s naval history.

“The syndicate was about to transport another round of shabu packs into the country, were it not for the timely interception.  The delivery was done under cover of darkness to dodge authorities”, said PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez, adding that the boat’s local owner has a lot of explaining to do in terms of its participation in the foiled smuggling try.

“Were it not for the strong patrolling capability of the Philippine Navy and the well-coordinated interdiction efforts of law enforcement agencies, the drugs could have reached our communities,” the PDEA Chief noted.

PDEA, together with its law enforcement and maritime partners, reaffirms its commitment to safeguard the country’s territorial waters from becoming entry and exit points for illegal drugs. # PDEA File Photos