EIGHTEEN more packs of crystalline substance believed to be shabu in the waters off Magsingal, Ilocos Sur have been recovered by fishermen in the area.
In a telephone interview with reporters on Thursday, Ilocos Sur Provincial Police Director Colonel Darnell Dulnuan said it was the third batch of shabu packs recovered off the coast of Ilocos Sur in the past four days.
From Monday, June 24, 60 packs of shabu with the same packaging markings were discovered in the area by several fishermen — 24 packs in the waters off San Juan, Ilocos Sur worth P163 million and another 18 packs in Cauayan on Wednesday.
“Yung San Juan is parang mahahanap mo yan sa halos northern tip na ng Ilocos Sur. Ang parang layo niyan is around mga 16 nautical miles from the lugar ng San Juan tapos ‘yung second na nahanap is dito sa Sta. Maria, which is around 18 nautical miles ang layo naman sa baybayin. And itong panghuli na nahanapan dito sa Magsingal is around 42 nautical miles,” said Dulnuan.
He said the value of the 36 packs of illegal drugs recovered since Wednesday is still being identified by forensic investigators.
Dulnuan expressed belief that the illegal contraband is not really intended for the Philippines.
“Hindi po talaga natin alam kung ano ba talaga yung real picture niyan. However, ito lang yung masasabi natin na hindi pa talaga konkreto ‘yung assumption natin, kung binagsak ba talaga yan or nagkaroon ng mishap doon sa dagat or what na parang naaanod, kasi ‘yung mga items na yan sa tabing dapat. Alam natin kung sana direction nung current or ‘yung hangin diyan sa dagat doon pumapadpad ‘yung mga items na yan,” he said.
