MANILA, Philippines — A series of anti-illegal drug operations across Pampanga, Batangas and Iloilo yielded approximately 2.7 kilograms of suspected shabu worth ₱18.5 million and led to the arrest of five people, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The operations were conducted on September 2, 2026, with the biggest haul coming from an intercepted parcel at the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
According to the PNP, joint law enforcement personnel discovered approximately 1,573 grams of suspected shabu inside an inbound parcel at the UPS Cargo Area. Authorities estimated the shipment’s value at ₱10.69 million.
The Clark interception accounted for more than half of the total estimated value of the drugs seized during the three operations.
Another kilo seized in Batangas
In Batangas City, police conducted a buy-bust operation in Barangay Balagtas that resulted in the arrest of one suspect.
Authorities recovered approximately 1,000 grams of suspected shabu, estimated to be worth ₱6.8 million, according to the PNP.
The operation brought the combined weight of the suspected illegal drugs recovered in Pampanga and Batangas to more than 2.5 kilograms.
Four arrested in Iloilo
Meanwhile, police in Iloilo City arrested four suspects during an operation in Barangay Igcocong, La Paz.
The operation resulted in the confiscation of approximately 152 grams of suspected shabu, with an estimated value of ₱1.03 million.
However, authorities said another individual identified in connection with the Iloilo operation remains at large.
That means the latest police operations resulted in five arrests overall, while the search continues for the additional person linked to the Iloilo case.
Drugs sent for examination
The confiscated substances have been placed under proper police custody for laboratory examination and appropriate disposition, while authorities prepare the corresponding cases against the arrested individuals.
Police have described the operations as part of continuing intelligence-driven efforts to disrupt the illegal drug trade before shipments and supplies reach communities.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stressed that the success of anti-drug operations should not be measured solely by the amount of drugs seized.
He said preventing illegal drugs from reaching communities, while ensuring that police operations are conducted properly and within the law, remains the standard expected of police personnel.
Part of wider anti-drug operations
The latest seizures come amid continuing nationwide anti-drug operations by Philippine authorities.
The PNP has reported other significant drug seizures in recent weeks, while the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said it seized approximately ₱1.10 billion worth of illegal drugs and arrested 4,426 drug suspects in 3,572 anti-drug operations during July 2026.
PDEA has also reported major court victories in recent weeks, including life-imprisonment sentences for individuals convicted in separate shabu trafficking cases.
The latest ₱18.5-million haul therefore adds to a broader enforcement campaign targeting the movement and distribution of illegal drugs across the country.
For now, authorities are continuing the legal process against those arrested, while the individual who remains at large in connection with the Iloilo operation is still being sought.
Important: The seized material remains described by authorities as suspected shabu pending laboratory examination. The arrested individuals are suspects and are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.
WWC ONE MEDIA M.J.E
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