The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is investigating whether the ₱19.2 million worth of high-grade marijuana recovered off the coast of Palawan was part of an international drug smuggling operation using routes in the West Philippine Sea.
PDEA spokesperson Atty. Joseph Frederick Calulut said the sealed marijuana packages, confirmed by the Philippine National Police as kush, were discovered floating near Palawan waters and turned over to authorities earlier this month.
“Talagang sinelyohan po ito para hindi po masira sa elemento ng karagatan… pinaghandaan po ‘yan,” Calulut said, noting that the packaging and type of substance suggest a possible foreign origin.
Calulut added that coordination with international partners is underway to trace the source of the illegal shipment.
“Very rare na magkakaroon ng kush and cocaine sa parteng Palawan, hindi kasi market ng Palawan and the Philippines ang cocaine… patuloy ang ginagawang coordination with foreign counterparts,” he said.
He emphasized that the case highlights the West Philippine Sea’s growing vulnerability to maritime smuggling.
PDEA is intensifying patrol coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to monitor coastal areas.
“Our coastline is very vast, so napakahirap bantayan po ‘yan… kaya kailangan natin ng tulong ng ating fisherfolks,” Calulut said.
The agency has also launched a program to train local fishing communities on how to properly report drug discoveries, while Seaport Interdiction Units have been deployed in major ports to prevent similar entries.
From October 1 to 17, authorities seized an estimated ₱928 million worth of illegal drugs in 89 nationwide operations, leading to 142 arrests.
Calulut said this success shows the “strong coordination and support from local communities and maritime agencies.”
PDEA continues to exchange intelligence with Interpol and foreign counterparts to identify international drug networks possibly using Philippine waters as transit routes.
