Law enforcement authorities have seized approximately 120 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, locally known as shabu, valued at P816 million in what officials are calling Oriental Mindoro’s largest drug bust to date.

The operation took place on Friday (March 21, 2025) at the Port of Calapan, where a multi-agency team intercepted the contraband hidden in the compartment of a vehicle.

A 43-year-old truck driver identified only as “Christopher,” a resident of Iloilo province, was arrested, and will face charges for possession and transportation of illegal drugs under the country’s Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The seizure was the result of a coordinated work between the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) MIMAROPA and multiple law enforcement units, including the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police.

“A routine inspection by Philippine Coast Guard personnel and their K9 units detected the presence of suspected illegal drugs inside travelling bags concealed in the vehicle’s compartment,” PDEA told reporters.

Mindoro has historically been used as a transit point for drug shipments due to its strategic location and multiple ports, though previous seizures have been notably smaller in scale.

In 2024, law enforcement agencies seized P34 million worth of shabu in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro.

The Philippine government has maintained an aggressive stance against illegal drugs since 2016, with authorities regularly conducting anti-illegal drug operations across the provinces.

Official figures show that methamphetamine remains the most widely trafficked illegal drug in the country, with the majority of supplies believed to originate from international drug syndicates.

Health experts note that methamphetamine (shabu) addiction continues to be a major public health issue in the country, affecting hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Filipinos and their families.