P1.5B FLOATING SHABU FOUND OFF ZAMBALES

BY KEVIN GALANG

BATAAN fishermen found some P1.5 billion worth of shabu floating off Masinloc, Zambales, authorities reported on Monday.

The illegal drugs, stuffed in 10 sacks, were discovered by fishers on Thursday and were turned over to the authorities on Monday.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Regional Office 3 is determining the origin of the contraband as it commended the fishermen for turning over the banned substance.

An investigation showed fishermen were sailing  the  high seas of West Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales, at about 5:30 p.m. on Thursday when they spotted the floating sacks.

The fishermen approached the sacks, initially believing they contained food packs.

They gathered the sacks and, upon opening, they discovered that it contained  suspected shabu.

The banned substance in 222 assorted vacuum-sealed transparent plastic packs weighing a kilo each will undergo forensic examination and confirmation at the PDEA RO 3 laboratory.