PDEA tags Sam Gor international drug syndicate behind the dumping of P1.5B ‘shabu’ in Zambales waters

DAVAO CITY (June 19)—The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) tagged Sam Gor international crime syndicate behind the dumping of more than one ton of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, discovered by local fishermen drifting in the coastal areas of Zambales, Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur last May.

PDEA chief Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said Sam Gor Group operates in various countries across the Asia-Pacific Region, including the Philippines.

It is largely involved in the trafficking of methamphetamine, and is believed to have an estimated 40 to 70 percent control of the drug market in the region, raking up profits up to more than $17billion in revenue a year.

 Aside from shabu, the syndicate also funnels big proportions of heroin, ketamine, other synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals.

“Based on the packaging of shabu packs recovered in Philippine shores, they were contained in teabags with Chinese markings – a signature trademark associated with Sam Gor”, Nerez said.

“Sam Gor gained notoriety by engaging in all sorts of unconventional methods of drug smuggling, including the use of the high seas. They dump their illicit goods to be retrieved later by contact local cohorts. It’s a good thing that our hero fishermen got there first before the drugs fell into the wrong hands”, Nerez stressed .

In a At least 56 local fishermen have already surrendered a total of 1,038 kilos of suspected shabu worth ₱7,058,400,000 in 40 turnover incidents to authorities, as of June 9, 2025 marking one of the country’s largest maritime seizures of illegal drugs in recent years.

The shabu packs were found washed ashore in the coastal areas of Dacap Sur, Bani; Boboy and Macaboboni, Agno; and Luciente I, Balingasay, Concordia and Poblacion, Bolinao—all located in the province of Pangasinan and Barangay Mantanas and Dili, Sta Cruz, Ilocos Sur.

Last May 29, some P1.5 billion  worth of shabu retrieved by 10 Bataan fishers off the waters of Masinloc, Zambales, were also surrendered to authorities on June 2, 2025.

“The sheer volume of surrendered illegal drugs is a resounding testament to the vigilance and integrity of our coastal communities. Honest deeds are always rewarded. Our hero fishermen will be given due recognition”, Director General Nerez expressed.

Retrieval operations by joint operatives of PDEA Regional Office I; the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Northwestern Luzon; Philippine Navy (PN) Northern Luzon Naval Command; National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 1; and local units of the Philippine National Police (PNP), are still ongoing.

  The PCG and PN continue to patrol nearby waters with the unwavering support of the local government units of Agno, Bani and Bolinao of Pangasinan, and Sta. Cruz of Ilocos Sur and surrounding coastal communities.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has issued a directive for the immediate destruction of the recovered illegal drugs to ensure that these harmful substances are out of reach of society.

“The President has spoken. PDEA will exert its utmost effort towards the prompt destruction of the illegal drugs and keep every Filipino out of harm’s way. We will pursue the key perpetrators behind this transnational crime as we remain vigilant not only in safeguarding our seas but also protecting our land and air from drug trafficking woes”, the PDEA Chief concluded.

PDEA, together with its law enforcement and maritime partners, reaffirms its commitment to protect the Philippine waters from becoming corridors of drug trafficking by strengthening intelligence coordination and community engagement.