OLONGAPO CITY — What initially appeared to be a major illegal-drug seizure at the Port of Subic has grown significantly after authorities uncovered another batch of suspected high-end marijuana, bringing the estimated street value of the total haul to ₱366.65 million.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Subic said Saturday, September 5, that its composite enforcement team recovered 109 additional packages containing approximately 123.91 kilograms of suspected “kush.” The newly discovered drugs were estimated to be worth ₱204.44 million.
With the latest discovery, authorities have now recovered 198 packages of suspected kush from the same yacht, with a combined estimated street value of ₱366.65 million.
More drugs found after initial seizure
The latest discovery came as authorities continued a detailed stripping and inspection of the vessel.
The operation followed an earlier seizure from the same yacht, which had already yielded nearly 100 kilograms of suspected marijuana. Initial reports placed that earlier haul at about 98.332 kilograms, with an estimated value of ₱162.2 million.
The continuing inspection demonstrates why authorities did not stop after the first batch was recovered.
BOC-Port of Subic District Collector Geniefelle P. Lagmay said the additional discovery underscored the importance of thoroughly checking vessels for concealed compartments and other possible hiding places.
The BOC said its personnel and partner agencies would continue examining the vessel as part of the ongoing enforcement and investigation.
How the yacht ended up in Subic
The vessel had originally been sailing from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, toward Taiwan when it encountered difficulties at sea and sought shelter and repairs at the Subic Bay Yacht Club.
Earlier reports said authorities received information that the distressed sailing yacht could be carrying prohibited or contraband items. A mission order was subsequently issued authorizing the inspection and search.
The initial search resulted in the discovery of suspected kush concealed aboard the vessel.
According to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the first batch was found in a compartment in the yacht’s engine-room area. SBMA’s initial account described the vessel as Malaysian-flagged and said it had four crew members aboard when it was brought into Subic after sending a distress signal.
Multiple agencies involved
The operation involved several government agencies, reflecting the scale of the investigation.
The continuing inspection has been conducted by the BOC in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Law Enforcement Department (SBMA-LED).
Earlier operations also involved SBMA intelligence and enforcement units and other local and regional law-enforcement personnel.
The confiscated substances were turned over to the PDEA for proper custody and disposition while the investigation continues.
Investigation far from over
Authorities have yet to publicly establish who owns the seized drugs, who allegedly concealed them aboard the yacht, or where the shipment was ultimately headed.
The initial SBMA account said investigators were looking into the origin and ownership of the suspected cannabis, intended destination and recipient, responsibility for the concealment and transport, the vessel’s travel history, and possible connections to international drug-trafficking networks. It also noted that no charges had been filed against the crew at that stage while the investigation was ongoing.
That distinction is important: the seizure of suspected illegal drugs does not by itself establish criminal liability for any particular crew member or vessel owner. Authorities must still determine who knew about the contraband and who was involved in transporting or concealing it.
For now, the headline figure is clear: the Subic yacht investigation has expanded from an initial ₱162.2-million seizure to a combined estimated ₱366.65 million haul, after investigators discovered another 109 packages during the continuing search.
And with authorities still examining the vessel, the possibility of further developments remains open.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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