The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) intercepted 12 kilos of suspected shabu (crystal methamphetamine) at the Batangas City port on Wednesday morning (Oct. 7).
The joint operation led to the arrest of four men, aged 18, 29, 30 and 41. The suspects are residents of Malate town in Manila, and Maluso town in Basilan, PCG Batangas said, citing a report from PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab.
Authorities also recovered a vehicle, a cellular phone, identification cards and ATM cards from the suspects.
The seized suspected shabu was estimated to be worth P81.6 million, according to the report.
At about 10 a.m., the four arrested suspects and the recovered evidence were turned over to PDEA for proper disposition and the filing of appropriate charges for alleged violations of Section 5 (Transportation of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.