P5.9 billion shabu found in abandoned boat

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

MANILA, Philippines —  Shabu with an estimated street value of P5.9 billion was found in an abandoned speedboat in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro on Monday, according to the Philippine Army.

Troopers from the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) were inspecting the boat, which ran aground in Barangay Harrison, when they discovered the illegal substance.

Col. Michael Aquino, public affairs office chief of the 2ID, said the contraband was stashed in 43 sacks and weighed about 876 kilos.

No one was arrested during the operation, but two Chinese-looking men were reportedly seen running away when soldiers arrived  in the area, according to Maj. Gen. Ramon Zagala, chief of the 2ID.

The Chinese nationals were arrested in a follow-up operation in Paluan proper yesterday afternoon.

The suspects were about to leave Mindoro when they were arrested, Zagala said.

Aside from shabu, soldiers recovered a Starlink communication device, eight hand flares, three fire extinguishers, four batteries, two life jackets and two lifebuoys from the boat.

The Army said the illegal substance and the suspects would be turned over to the police. –  Ed Amoroso