Latest news with #PhilippineDrugEnforcementAgency
GMA Network
16-07-2025
- GMA Network
57 Pangasinan fishermen commended for reporting P6.5B 'floating shabu'
A total of 57 fishermen from the towns of Bolinao, Agno, and Bani in Pangasinan were recognized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for surrendering blocks of suspected "floating shabu" found at sea earlier this June 2025. The drugs were discovered between June 5 and June 8, with a total of over 900 kilograms of shabu turned over to authorities. The illegal drugs were estimated to be worth more than P6.5 billion. PDEA praised the fishermen for their courage and honesty. They described their actions as a strong example in the agency's continuing campaign against illegal drugs. As a token of appreciation, the fishermen received grocery items and a cash incentive from the provincial government.
GMA Network
12-07-2025
- GMA Network
P2.5M worth of dried marijuana seized in Baguio City
Around 21 kilograms of dried marijuana worth P2.5 million were seized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during a buy-bust operation in Baguio City. According to a Super Radyo dzBB report by Luisito Santos on Saturday, PDEA Cordillera Administrative Region Director Derek Carreon said that two suspects, ages 43 and 52, were carrying 20 bricks of dried marijuana. PDEA Cordillera is now in custody of the suspects, who will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- GMA Network
PDEA: 4.3 tons of shabu confiscated in first half of 2025
A total of 4.3 tons of shabu were seized in anti-illegal drug operations conducted in the first six months of 2025, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has said. According to Ivan Mayrina's report in '24 Oras', the figure was more than double the 1.3 tons of shabu confiscated over the same period last year. Among the shabu items seized were those found floating in the waters off Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Region, Cagayan, which were believed to have originated from foreign syndicates. Meanwhile, one was charged after shabu was found in a fishing boat last year. 'Kasi marami hong modus ang ginagamit nitong mga drug personalities – isa na ho diyang iyong floating shabu, pangalawa iyong sa fishing vessel. And isa rin po, iyong they try to package it as food products,' said PDEA spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut. (Because these drug personalities use many methods – one is the floating shabu, the second is the fishing vessel. And another is that they try to package it as food products.) 'So, if we are looking at the packages na nakuha natin sa fishing vessel plus doon ho sa floating shabu, parehas po iyong packaging po nila – saan po nanggaling po ito?" he added. "Doon ho sa may Golden Triangle area. Eh kung tatanungin po saan po ba iyong Golden Triangle area? Ito po iyong boundaries ng Myanmar, Thailand and Laos,' Calulut said. (So, if we are looking at the packages we got from the fishing vessel plus the floating shabu, they have the same packaging – where did it come from? It's in the Golden Triangle area. So, if you ask me, where is the Golden Triangle area? These are the boundaries of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos.) PDEA operatives on Monday confiscated P749 million worth of shabu found in four balikbayan boxes from the USA. These were concealed inside the packaging of cereals, chips, and instant noodles. According to the report, the shipment came from California, and the address of the supposed recipients is in Mandaluyong and in Quezon City. "We are conducting our follow up operations doon po sa mga consignees because most likely iyong consignees iba iyong pangalan although identified naman iyong pangalan sa consignee patuloy po iyong ating follow up operation po," Calulut said. (We are conducting our follow-up operations on the consignees because most likely the consignees have different names, although the consignee's name is identified. We will continue our follow-up operations.) –Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- GMA Network
Over P30B worth of illegal drugs seized in first half of 2025
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Tuesday that it has confiscated around P30.29 billion worth of illegal drugs in the first six months of 2025. PDEA spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut said in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon that among the items they seized were shabu, marijuana, cocaine, and ecstacy. The anti-drug agency also said that it has conducted 19,765 anti-illegal drug operations in various regions including Region 7, 4-A,3, NCR, Region 11. Calulut noted that such operations led to the arrest of more than 26,000 individuals, including foreigners. 'Speaking of high-value targets na na-aresto sa period na 'yun, we have arrested 26,051 individuals and high-value targets dito is 1,551. Kapag sinabi nating high-value targets, kasama na rin po diyan yung mga foreigners. Sa katunuyan po, may mga 27 na foreigners na na-aresto and majority of this ay mga Tsino,' said Calulut, adding that these foreigners are members of drug syndicates. (Speaking of high-value targets who were arrested in the said period, we have arrested 26,051 individuals and 1,551 of them are high-value ones. Among the high-value targets are foreigners. In fact, we have arrested 27 foreigners and the majority of them are Chinese.) PDEA added that it has filed cases against 27,617 individuals and over 11,000 were convicted. The agency also said that from January to June of this year at least 4,027 barangays were cleared from illegal drugs activities. Calulut assured that there was no 'recycling' of confiscated illegal drugs as witnesses are present during the inventory. 'During the marking and inventory of drug evidence, nandiyan na rin ho ang mga witnesses. So wala hong masasabi ang mga tao na may recycling na nangyari,' he said. (During the marking and inventory of drug evidence, we have witnesses present. So people cannot accuse us of recycling.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
24-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos: 'bloodless' war on drugs beginning to see some success
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday underscored that his administration has been addressing the drug problem in a "peaceful manner," saying that its good results are becoming evident. Marcos said the 'new concept' of solving drugs is working, noting that 'we are beginning to see the good effects of the new policy.' 'We must continue the war against drugs but… we do it in a peaceful way,' Marcos said after his inspection of recovered illegal drugs at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency headquarters. 'It has been described as a bloodless war on drugs and that is what we are aiming for. Nonetheless, despite the fact that we do not kill people that are just suspected of having anything to do with drugs, imbes na ganon ang ginagawa natin, we are handling the drug problem in a different way,' he added. Marcos said the government has been hitting the drug trade at the highest level and at the lowest level. 'And we are beginning to see some measure of success,' Marcos stressed. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said that up for destruction through thermal decomposition are the 1,304.604 kilograms of shabu packs, with an estimated street price of P8,871,307,200. These were recovered in the waters of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
