Third batch of shabu packs found off Ilocos Sur

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MANILA, Philippines — The third batch of packs containing crystal meth, locally known as shabu, was found floating at sea in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur on Wednesday evening, the police said on Thursday.

Ilocos Sur Police Provincial Office director Col. Darnell Dulnuan said fisherfolk discovered 18 packs of shabu some 42 nautical miles from Magsingal shore.

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“They saw the narcotics, collected them, and reported it to local police,” Dalnuan told reporters in a phone patch interview.

Fisherfolk in San Juan Bay and Caoayan found 24 and 18 packs of narcotics, respectively — all of which bore “Chinese characters,” he said.

A total of 60 packs of shabu were so far collected from three municipalities in the province from Monday to Wednesday.

Earlier, Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group director Brig. Gen Jonathan Cabal said it is unlikely that the narcotics were intentionally dropped in the areas.

He revealed, however, that the nearest international sea lane serves as the passage for cargo ships coming from various foreign countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Hong Kong—a special administrative region of China.

Dalunan said the Ilocos Sur police have coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard, the PNP Maritime Group, the PNP Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, among others.