Authorities confiscated more than ₱272 million worth of illegal drugs during a joint operation at Batangas Port on September 16, 2025.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Batangas, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Seaport Interdiction Unit, and the PCG K9 Unit carried out the seizure after spotting suspicious cargo being unloaded.
According to the Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog, PDEA operatives noticed a driver struggling to unload one of several audio speakers from a private vehicle. This prompted the PCG K9 Team to conduct a paneling check, which revealed the presence of illegal drugs concealed inside four speakers.
The contraband was traced to a 30-year-old driver from Cotabato City, who was immediately taken into custody. Authorities did not release the identity of the suspect pending further investigation.
The seized evidence has been turned over to the PDEA National Headquarters for laboratory examination and proper disposition. Officials said the laboratory results will confirm the type and total weight of the narcotics discovered.
The successful interception highlights the continuing coordination between maritime and anti-drug enforcement units in preventing illegal substances from passing through the country’s ports.
As of press time, the arrested suspect remains under the custody of PDEA while follow-up investigations are being conducted to identify possible links to larger drug syndicates.
