Navy recovers P19.2M worth of suspected marijuana floating in WPS

The Philippine Navy has recovered a bag containing approximately 16 kilograms of suspected high-grade marijuana, worth an estimated P19.2 million, floating in the waters near Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

According to the Navy, the Maritime Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary Unit–West (MCAAU-W) received information on Friday night about a suspicious black bag believed to contain high-grade marijuana.

The MCAAU-W coordinated with the Philippine Navy’s Western Naval Command, which dispatched the BRP Lolinato To-Ong to the area. The BRP Lolinato To-Ong and the MCAAU-W located and recovered the bag early Saturday morning.

The bag and its contents were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Palawan (PDEA) at the pier in Puerto Princesa City on Monday for evaluation and proper disposition.

PDEA confirmed that the black bag contained 32 clear and black plastic bags containing approximately 16 kilograms of suspected high-grade marijuana kush. PDEA Palawan has initiated the evaluation, field testing, and official inventory of the seized items, with appropriate disposition procedures now underway.