Police operations in Cagayan yield shabu haul worth almost P500 million

An ongoing maritime operations yield some drug recoveries in Cagayan province, like this stash of suspected crystal meth (shabu). (Photo courtesy of Cagayan PNP)

TUGUEGARAO CITY — The total street value of shabu (crystal meth) recovered from the coastal waters of five towns in Cagayan over the past several days has reached nearly P500 million.

This figure is based on the ongoing laboratory results.

The confiscations were confirmed by Police Colonel Mardito Anguluan, Cagayan provincial police director, in an interview on June 18.

He said the largest haul so far—found in Claveria last week—was valued at ₱340 million, while another cache recovered in Gonzaga was worth ₱102 million.

Additional findings include a sack containing 400 grams of shabu found in Santa Ana on June 17, valued at P2.7 million, and another recovered in Sta. Praxedes, estimated at P5.1 million.

Meanwhile, operations under Project SPIES (Strengthening Port Interdiction to Enhance Security) led to the discovery of a plastic gallon container in Sitio Mingay, Barangay San Julian, Sta. Praxedes.

The container, marked “3H1/Y1.8/100/20 CN/C290518,” was suspected to contain Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals (CPECS)—key substances used in manufacturing illegal drugs such as shabu.

The container, which held 6.7 kilos (or six liters) of liquid, was turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)–Cagayan Valley Region for chemical analysis.

“We are pushing for a long-term solution—not just short-term operations—and we can achieve this with the cooperation and support of the people of Cagayan,” Anguluan said. /apl