Latest news with #IsaganiNerez
GMA Network
16-06-2025
- GMA Network
PDEA seizes P321.98M worth of suspected shabu off Cagayan
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized P321.98 million worth of suspected shabu in Cagayan province over the weekend. In a statement, PDEA said two local fishermen turned over an estimated 45.6 kilos of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu they found floating off the coast of Barangay Centro 6, Claveria, Cagayan, early morning of June 15, Sunday. PDEA said the illegal drugs consisted of 50 plastic packs of gold tea bags labeled "DAGUANYIN" with markings of Chinese characters and has an estimated street value of ?312.8 million. Two days earlier, around one kilogram of floating suspected shabu worth ?6.8 million was also recovered in the waters off Sitio Narvacan, Barangay Dilam, Calayan, Cagayan during a seaborne patrol operation by local authorities. Later during the same day, a fishermen and a barangay kagawad surrendered one pack of floating shabu weighing approximately 750 grams worth ?5.1 million at Sitio Mingay, Brgy. San Juan, Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan. "The swift response and coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies ensured the safe recovery and proper documentation of the illicit substances," PDEA said. The operation was a joint collaboration of elements of the PDEA, the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard. All recovered suspected shabu packs were turned over to PDEA Regional Office 2 Laboratory Office for qualitative and quantitative examination. PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez, for his part, lauded the local fisherfolks from Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan, who all surrendered their suspected shabu find. "They have done something good that inspires others to follow suit. We applaud the integrity of these fishermen," Nerez said. "Their courage sets an example for every Filipino. It is clear that public vigilance can be one of our strongest defenses against any evil ploy of drug syndicates," Nerez added. In addition, PDEA said they are now conducting an in-depth investigation on the origin and intended recipient of the recovered contraband that were intentionally offloaded at sea while intensified surveillance and maritime patrols in Northern Luzon are also ongoing. "PDEA continues to urge citizens to report any suspicious activities and become part of the country's fight against illegal drugs," the agency said in a statement. —Llanesca Panti/AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14-06-2025
- GMA Network
P29.7M worth of shabu seized from passenger at NAIA 3
Authorities on Friday seized nearly P30 million worth of shabu from a Filipino woman who arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Saturday that when the authorities examined her luggage, they discovered that the illegal drugs, which were worth P29,702,400, were concealed inside an improvised black duct tape pouch. The agency said the illegal drugs, which weighed 4.368 kilograms, had been turned over to the PDEA Laboratory Service for confirmatory testing. Inquest proceedings were conducted for the 43-year-old suspect identified by the alias "Lyn" for importing dangerous drugs, which is a violation of Section 4 of Republic Act 9165. Floating shabu In Ilocos Norte, a concerned resident and two fishermen surrendered to authorities P20.4 million worth of shabu found washed ashore off the coasts of Laoag City and Paoay town. The packs of shabu were surrendered to combined elements of PDEA Ilocos Norte Provincial Office and local counterparts from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) on June 12 and 13. Photo: PDEA PDEA reported that as of June 13, residents of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte had turned over 1,243.12 kilograms of floating shabu valued at P8,453,216,000 to the authorities. 'The retrieval operations and scouring of coastlines continue until all surrounding areas are explored. This is a testament to the strong inter-agency collaboration and cooperation among law enforcement agencies, in support of local government units and seaside communities, in protecting our waters from becoming prevailing routes of drug smuggling and trafficking activities,'' said PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10-06-2025
- GMA Network
PDEA: Sam Gor syndicate behind P7B worth of shabu found in PH waters
An international crime syndicate called the Sam Gor is behind the sacks containing over P7 billion worth of shabu recovered from Philippine waters recently, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Tuesday. "Sam Gor is a five-drug triad alliance namely: the 14K, Bamboo Union, Big Circle Gang, Sun Yeen On, and Wo Shing Wo, whose leaders are based in Hong Kong and Taiwan,' PDEA director general Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said in a statement. 'Their members simply called it 'The Company,'' he added. As of Monday, the PDEA said 56 local fishermen have surrendered a total of 1,038 kilos of suspected shabu worth P7,058,400,000 in 40 turnover incidents to authorities. This is one of the country's largest maritime seizures of illegal drugs in recent years, according to the PDEA. The sacks of shabu were found in the coastal areas of Dacap Sur, Bani; Boboy and Macaboboni, Agno; and Luciente I, Balingasay, Concordia and Poblacion, Bolinao—all located in the province of Pangasinan Some were found in Barangay Mantanas and Dili in Sta Cruz, Ilocos Sur. Floating shabu was also found off the waters of Masinloc, Zambales. 'Based on the packaging of shabu packs recovered in Philippine shores, they were contained in teabags with Chinese markings - a signature trademark associated with Sam Gor,' Nerez said. "Sam Gor gained notoriety by engaging in all sorts of unconventional methods of drug smuggling, including the use of the high seas. They dump their illicit goods to be retrieved later by contact local cohorts. It's a good thing that our hero fishermen got there first before the drugs fell into the wrong hands,' he added. Citing reports, the PDEA said Sam Gor operates in various countries across the Asia-Pacific Region, including the Philippines. 'It is largely involved in trafficking methamphetamine, and is believed to have an estimated 40 to 70 percent control of the drug market in the region, raking up profits up to more than $17 billion in revenue a year,' the PDEA said. 'Aside from shabu, the syndicate also funnels big proportions of heroin, ketamine, other synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals,' it added. The PDEA said Sam Gor is named after the nickname of its suspected founder/leader, 'Tse Chi Lop', a Chinese-Canadian who was arrested four years ago in the Netherlands. He was eventually extradited to Australia in December 2022 to face drug trafficking charges. According to the PDEA, he is considered Asia's 'El Chapo', a reference to Joaquin Guzman, a former Mexican drug lord who became one of the world's most powerful traffickers of narcotics. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
27-05-2025
- GMA Network
Over P1B worth of ‘shabu' found in Pampanga house
More than P1 billion worth of suspected shabu was discovered during a search in a house in Angeles City, Pampanga on Monday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Tuesday. In a statement, PDEA said authorities implemented a search warrant on a house at a subdivision in Barangay Pampang against a Chinese national. PDEA director general Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said that the illegal drugs were placed inside 155 transparent plastic bags with around one kilogram each, amounting to P1,054,000,000. 'However, the house turned out to be abandoned. The subject of the search warrant, a Chinese national, was nowhere in sight and remains at-large,' the PDEA said. The subject of the search warrant will be facing charges for possession of illegal drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. According to PDEA, the search was linked to the operation less than two weeks ago in Angeles City, where more than 35 kilograms of shabu were seized and a Chinese national and his Filipina cohort were nabbed. 'The two drug operations mentioned are linked to each other. What you see is the outcome of persistent tracking of previous operations targeting individuals connected to syndicated drug trafficking to include their sources,' Undersecretary Nerez said. 'While PDEA prioritizes the conduct of high-impact operations resulting in the arrests of high-value drug personalities and high-volume drug seizures, it is at the grassroots level where most of the drugs are sold and abused. We will not relinquish our thrust to go after small-scale drug dealers in communities as ordered by His Excellency Ferdinand R Marcos, Jr.,' he added. —VAL/ GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
22-05-2025
- GMA Network
PDEA: 8 informants received cash rewards worth P11.6M
Eight civilian informants received a total of P11,633,843 in cash rewards under the monetary incentive program Operation: Private Eye (OPE), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Thursday. In a statement, PDEA said four informants received P2 million each. One of the informants helped in the seizure of 49,705.20 grams of shabu worth P340 million and the arrest of two suspects during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City, on March 14. Another informant contributed to the confiscation of 39,859.60 grams of shabu worth P272 million and the arrest of a drug personality after a buy-bust operation in Binangonan, Rizal, on March 19. 'In a literal sense, vigilance pays off. Reliable information in exchange for monetary consideration,' PDEA director general Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said. 'Imagine, if more members of the community are vigilant and proactive in combating the drug trade, a vast network of eyes and ears remains at PDEA's disposal. It is definitely a huge boost for us considering our limited manpower,' he added. PDEA said the OPE reward committee, which approves the monetary rewards for the informants, is composed of the agency's key officers as well as members from the business, academe, and religious sectors. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
