Biggest Drug Haul in Philippine History: Over Two Tons of Shabu Seized
April 16, 2024 - In what is being hailed as the biggest drug haul in Philippine history, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inspection of over two tons of shabu, worth an estimated PhP13.3 billion, in Batangas on Tuesday.
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The suspect, apprehended at a road checkpoint in Alitagtag, Batangas, was driving a van carrying the illegal drugs. Remarkably, the arrest was made without any violence or casualties. “This is the biggest shipment of shabu we have intercepted. But not one person died. No one was hurt. We operated carefully,” President Marcos told reporters.
The President emphasized that this approach should be the norm in the drug war, with the primary goal being to stop the influx of drugs into the Philippines. He also revealed that authorities are now tracing the source of the illegal drugs, as they were not locally manufactured.
In recognition of the successful operation, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recommended a “spot promotion” for Alitagtag Municipal Police Station Chief P/Captain Luis de Luna Jr. De Luna explained that the seizure was the result of a regular checkpoint in Barangay Pinagkrusan, where they flagged down a suspicious passenger van.
The driver of the van was promptly arrested and charged for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. He is currently under police custody.
This drug haul surpasses the previous record of 1,589 tea bags of shabu worth PhP11 billion seized in Infanta, Quezon in March 2022. From July 2022 to December 2023, the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign has conducted 36,803 operations, resulting in the arrest of 49,700 drug suspects, including 3,284 high-value targets.