OLONGAPO CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is now digging deeper into the movements of a sailing yacht after authorities uncovered an estimated ₱366.65 million worth of suspected high-grade marijuana, or “kush,” hidden aboard the vessel at the Subic Bay Yacht Club.
The latest development shifts the investigation beyond the drugs themselves, with the Coast Guard seeking access to the yacht’s navigation systems and voyage records to determine where the vessel traveled before reaching Subic Bay—and whether its route could provide clues about the shipment.
PCG wants yacht’s navigation history
PCG Zambales commander Cmdr. Euphraim Jayson Diciano said the agency has requested access to the sailing yacht “Lindsy,” which is currently under the custody of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The Coast Guard wants to examine the vessel’s logbooks, navigational charts, GPS records, electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS), chart plotter and automatic identification system (AIS).
Investigators hope the information will establish the yacht’s voyage history and identify possible maritime corridors that could have been used to transport illegal drugs into the Philippines.
The navigation data could also be incorporated into the PCG’s maritime enforcement database, potentially helping authorities identify similar routes or suspicious vessel movements in future operations.
However, authorities have yet to establish that the yacht’s previous movements are directly connected to the drug shipment.
Drug haul more than doubled after deeper search
The investigation intensified after authorities continued stripping and searching the yacht.
The initial operation on September 2 yielded approximately 98.33 kilograms of suspected kush, consisting of 89 packages, with an estimated street value of ₱162.2 million.
But the search did not end there.
On September 5, a composite team discovered another 109 packages weighing about 123.91 kilograms, valued at approximately ₱204.44 million.
That brought the total seizure to 198 packages weighing roughly 222.24 kilograms, with an estimated combined street value of ₱366.65 million.
Authorities searched compartments and difficult-to-reach areas of the vessel, including portions beneath the yacht. Coast Guard divers also inspected underwater sections as part of the continuing search for possible concealed contraband.
How the yacht ended up in Subic
The yacht reportedly arrived at the Subic Bay Yacht Club on August 28 after experiencing generator and engine problems.
The latest Inquirer report says the vessel had been sailing from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, toward Taiwan when it encountered problems and proceeded to Subic.
Earlier reports from the BOC and other outlets likewise identified Kota Kinabalu as the vessel’s point of departure, although an earlier Inquirer report described the vessel as having come from Thailand. The most recent PCG-linked account identifies Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, as the departure point, making the yacht’s exact voyage history an important part of the continuing investigation.
The yacht was reportedly manned by Thai and Malaysian crew members. Authorities have not publicly established their involvement in the suspected drug shipment.
Mechanics reportedly uncovered the hidden compartment
The case began with information received by the PCG Intelligence Unit in Zambales on September 1.
According to authorities, mechanics working on the yacht’s generator and engine reportedly discovered a concealed compartment containing suspected illegal substances.
That information prompted authorities to conduct verification before coordinating an enforcement operation involving the BOC and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
On September 2, authorities boarded and searched the vessel, leading to the initial seizure.
The operation involved multiple agencies, including the BOC, PCG, PDEA, Department of Justice, Philippine National Police and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Law Enforcement Department, along with other local and yacht-club officials.
PDEA takes custody of seized drugs
The confiscated suspected marijuana was turned over to the PDEA for proper custody, disposition and the continuation of legal proceedings.
The BOC said the continuing inspection demonstrates that enforcement operations do not necessarily end after an initial seizure, particularly when investigators have reason to believe additional contraband may remain concealed inside a vessel.
The BOC has also emphasized that the operation forms part of efforts to strengthen Philippine border security and disrupt the trafficking of illegal drugs and other prohibited goods.
The bigger question: Where did the yacht come from?
With the suspected drug haul now valued at nearly ₱367 million, investigators are turning their attention to the yacht’s movements.
The PCG’s examination of its GPS, AIS, electronic navigation equipment and voyage records could potentially provide investigators with a clearer picture of the vessel’s movements before it reached Subic.
For now, authorities have not publicly concluded who owned the drugs, who placed them aboard the yacht, or whether the crew members were involved.
Those questions remain central to the investigation as authorities work to reconstruct the vessel’s route and determine how the massive shipment allegedly made its way into the Philippines.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
Leave a Reply